Deepthi Jeevanji Smashes Record to Clinch Gold in Aichi-Nagoya
Para-athlete Deepthi Jeevanji sets a new Games record in the women's 400m T20 event to clinch gold for India at the Aichi-Nagoya games.
Indian para-athlete Deepthi Jeevanji delivered a masterclass performance at the 2026 Asian Para Games, securing the gold medal in the women’s 400m T20 event. In a dominant display of speed and endurance, Jeevanji not only took the top spot on the podium but also established a new Games record with a blistering time of 56.36 seconds.
A Dominant Run to Gold
The Paris 2024 Paralympics bronze medallist left her opponents in the dust, finishing the race more than two seconds ahead of the silver medallist. Japan’s Niina Kanno took second place with a time of 58.92 seconds, while her compatriot Akane Kato claimed the bronze, clocking in at 1:00.26.
Jeevanji's victory was a pivotal moment for the Indian contingent, marking the nation's fifth gold medal of the competition and the first gold earned on the second day of the games.
Mixed Results in Table Tennis and Badminton
While the track events brought celebration, the table tennis arena saw a tough outing for Bhavina Patel. The 2020 Paralympics silver medallist secured a bronze medal after being knocked out in the Women's Singles Class 4-5 semi-finals. Patel faced a challenging match against China's Zhang Bian, suffering a 3-0 defeat with set scores of 7-11, 5-11, and 7-11.
In para badminton, there was reason for optimism as the mixed SL3-SU5 pair of Pramod Bhagat and Manisha Ramdass guaranteed themselves a medal. The duo cruised into the semifinals after a convincing quarterfinal victory over Thailand's Srinavakul Chanida and Teamarrom Siripong, winning 21-15, 21-14 in a match that lasted just 25 minutes.
Para Archers Charge into Quarterfinals
India's archery squad also showed immense strength, with six athletes advancing to the quarterfinals in their respective individual events:
- Harvinder Singh: Progressed in the men’s recurve event.
- Bhawna: Advanced in the women’s recurve category.
- Compound Archers: Sheetal Devi, Payal Nag, Toman Kumar, and Shyam Sunder Swami all secured their berths in the quarterfinals.
The collective success across athletics, badminton, and archery underscores a strong campaign for India at the Aichi-Nagoya games.