Bronze Hat-trick: Himanshu Nandal Shines at Asian Para Games 2026
Para-swimmer Himanshu Nandal secures three bronze medals at the Asian Para Games 2026 in Japan, marking a historic leap for Indian swimming.
Indian para-swimmer Himanshu Nandal has etched his name in the history books after securing a remarkable hat-trick of bronze medals at the Asian Para Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. The 22-year-old athlete dedicated his historic achievement to the nation and his support staff, attributing his success to the relentless hard work and dedication of the team behind him.
The Final Push to Victory
Nandal completed his treble of podium finishes on Friday, claiming bronze in the men's 100m freestyle S11 event. In a high-stakes race, he clocked a time of one minute and 5.90 seconds to secure the third spot. The gold was claimed by Japan's Uchu Tomita, who set a new Games record of 58.22 seconds, while China's Chuanzhen Sun took the silver with a timing of 58.70 seconds.
Reflecting on his performance, Nandal expressed immense satisfaction, noting that he managed to achieve personal bests during the competition. However, he revealed that not all his medals came easily.
"It feels wonderful. I also achieved personal bests, and I managed to secure three bronze medals. I would like to dedicate this achievement to the nation and to my support staff, who worked so hard and with such dedication to make this possible," Nandal told ANI.
A Race Decided by Microseconds
While the 100m freestyle was a triumph, Nandal described the 100m breaststroke as his most grueling challenge. He highlighted how razor-thin the margins were in a sport where every fraction of a second counts.
"The 100-metre breaststroke was the most challenging. The race was so intense that the finish came down to mere microseconds. If I had been even a fraction further behind—by a distance no greater than the thickness of a strand of hair—I would have lost the medal," he added.
A Historic Leap for Indian Para-Swimming
Himanshu Nandal's success was a cornerstone of a vastly improved campaign for the Indian para-swimming contingent. India signed off from the Games with a total of 11 medals—comprising three silver and eight bronze—a massive jump from the previous edition where the country had secured only a single bronze medal.
Nandal shared the spotlight as one of India's top performers alongside Ravi Budigina, who also bagged three medals. Budigina's haul included silver in the men's S13 100m backstroke and freestyle, and a bronze in the men's 50m freestyle.
Nandal's Medal Timeline:
- 400m Freestyle: Opened his account on Tuesday with a timing of 5:10.91 (Bronze).
- 100m Breaststroke S11: Secured a hard-fought podium finish (Bronze).
- 100m Freestyle S11: Finished the campaign with a time of 1:05.90 (Bronze).
The S11 classification is specifically for swimmers with severe visual impairments, including those with no light perception or very low visual acuity.
From Judo to the Pool: The Journey of a Champion
Born blind due to optic nerve failure, Himanshu Nandal's journey is one of resilience and adaptation. Coming from a sports-oriented family in Rohtak, Haryana—where his father was a national-level hockey player—Nandal moved to Delhi at age four. He joined the National Association for the Blind to learn Braille and initially found his calling in judo, winning several national medals.
It was only in 2021 that Nandal switched his focus to swimming. His ascent in the pool was meteoric, leading him to become the first Indian blind swimmer to meet the Minimum Qualification Standard for the Paris Paralympics in 2024.