Historic Haul: PM Modi Hails India’s Record 114-Medal Triumph at Asian Para Games
India achieves its best-ever performance at the Asian Para Games 2026 with 114 medals. PM Modi praises the athletes' extraordinary determination.
India has scripted history at the Asian Para Games 2026, delivering its most successful campaign ever with a staggering total of 114 medals. This unprecedented achievement has sparked celebrations across the country, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi describing the feat as an "occasion of immense pride and joy" for the entire nation.
The Indian contingent concluded its journey in Aichi-Nagoya with a tally that includes 30 gold, 35 silver, and 49 bronze medals. This performance marks a significant leap from the previous edition, where India had originally won 111 medals, though that count was later reduced to 108 after three medals were stripped due to doping violations involving athletes Neeraj Yadav and Parveen.
A Triumph of Quality Over Quantity
What makes this record-breaking haul even more remarkable is the size of the squad. India achieved this historic milestone with a significantly smaller contingent compared to the previous Games. While 309 athletes competed in Hangzhou, only 168 para-athletes represented India in the 2026 edition, proving that the quality and determination of the athletes reached new heights.
Taking to X, Prime Minister Modi lauded the grit of the athletes, stating: “What an extraordinary achievement by our para-athletes at the just concluded Asian Para Games 2026! With a record 114 medals, this marks India’s best-ever performance at the Games... I congratulate every member of our contingent for their exceptional determination.”
Dominance in Para-Badminton and Archery
The badminton courts witnessed high-voltage drama and absolute dominance. In the men's singles SL3 final, Paralympic champion Nitesh Kumar secured gold by defeating his compatriot and world champion Pramod Bhagat (21-18, 21-16), ensuring India swept the top two spots.
The women's contingent was equally formidable. Thulasimathi Murugesan and Manasi Girishchandra Joshi clinched gold in the women's doubles SL3-SU5, defeating China's Qiuxia Yang and Zuxian Xiao. Thulasimathi further added to the tally with a silver in the women's singles SU5, while Nithya Sre Sumathy Sivan earned silver in the women's singles SH6.
In archery, the duo of Harvinder Singh and debutant Vijay Sundi struck gold in the men's recurve doubles. Meanwhile, Pooja Jatyan and Bhawna Choudhary made history by securing silver in the women's recurve doubles, marking India's first-ever medal in this specific event at the Asian Para Games.
World Records and Podium Sweeps in Athletics
India's track and field athletes were the stars of the show, rewriting record books and dominating the podiums:
- Javelin Throw: Haney set a world record in the T37 category with a throw of 60.49 metres to win gold. In the F42-F44/F61-F64 final, India achieved a complete podium sweep. Sumit took gold (72.46m), Mahendra Gurjar took silver with a Games record (59.03m), and Sandip Sanjay Sargar took bronze with another Games record (64.48m). Navdeep Singh also added a bronze in the F40/41 category.
- Sprinting: Debutant Sandeep delivered a powerhouse performance, winning gold in the men's 400m T64 with a world-record time of 52.28 seconds. He also secured a bronze in the 100m T44. Ajay Kumar complemented this success with a bronze in the 400m T64.
- Club Throw: Pranav Soorma dominated the F51 event, winning gold and smashing the previous Games record with a throw of 32.87 metres. Dharambir secured a bronze in the same event.
- Other Feats: Rakeshbhai Bhatt earned a bronze in the men's 200m T37.
Precision in Shooting
The success extended to the shooting range, where Mona Agarwal displayed clinical precision to win gold in the women's 50m rifle 3 positions SH1. Her score of 357.5 not only secured the top spot but also set a new world record.