Asian Para Games 2026: India Smashes Records with Historic 114-Medal Haul
India makes history at the Asian Para Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya with a record 114 medals, including 30 gold and several world records.
India has rewritten its sporting history at the Asian Para Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, concluding its campaign with an unprecedented total of 114 medals. In a display of sheer dominance and resilience, the Indian contingent secured 30 gold, 35 silver, and 49 bronze medals, marking the country's most successful outing in the history of the event.
This achievement is particularly striking given that India accomplished this feat with a significantly leaner squad. While 309 athletes competed in the previous edition at Hangzhou, only 168 para-athletes represented the nation in Aichi-Nagoya. Despite the smaller numbers, India surpassed its previous best of 108 medals (after adjustments for doping sanctions in the prior games), proving that the quality and preparation of the athletes have reached a global standard.
A Triumph of Will and Support
Devendra Jhajharia, President of the Paralympic Committee of India, expressed immense pride in the athletes' achievements. He noted that crossing the 100-medal threshold is a testament to the courage and determination of the sportspersons.
"Crossing the 100-medal mark and reaching 114 medals is a proud moment for Indian para-sports," Jhajharia stated. He attributed this success to the "unprecedented encouragement, recognition and support" provided under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which has inspired the entire sporting ecosystem to strive for excellence.
World Records and Podium Sweeps
The track and field events were a goldmine for India, featuring several world-record performances and a complete podium sweep.
Athletics Highlights:
- Javelin Throw: India achieved a historic clean sweep in the men's javelin throw F42-F44/F61-F64 final. Sumit claimed gold in the T64 category (72.46m), Mahendra Gurjar took silver with a Games record of 59.03m (T42), and Sandip Sanjay Sargar secured bronze with a Games record of 64.48m (T44).
- World Record Feats: Haney set a world record in the T37 category with a throw of 60.49m to win gold in the men's javelin throw F37/38. Meanwhile, debutant Sandeep stunned the competition in the men's 400m T64, clocking 52.28 seconds to set a world record in the T44 category.
- Other Podium Finishes: Pranav Soorma won gold in the men's club throw F51 with a Games-record throw of 32.87m. Other notable wins included bronze medals for Ajay Kumar (400m), Dharambir (club throw), Navdeep Singh (javelin throw), and Rakeshbhai Bhatt (200m).
Dominance in Para-Badminton and Archery
The badminton courts witnessed intense battles, including an all-Indian finale in the men's singles SL3. Reigning Paralympic champion Nitesh Kumar defeated world champion Pramod Bhagat (21-18, 21-16) to secure gold, leaving Bhagat with a silver medal.
In the women's category, Thulasimathi Murugesan and Manasi Girishchandra Joshi dominated the SL3-SU5 doubles, defeating China's Qiuxia Yang and Zuxian Xiao to win gold. Thulasimathi added a silver in the SU5 singles, while Nithya Sre Sumathy Sivan earned silver in the SH6 singles.
The archery contingent also made waves. Harvinder Singh and debutant Vijay Sundi secured gold in the men's recurve doubles. In a historic first for India at the Asian Para Games, Pooja Jatyan and Bhawna Choudhary won silver in the women's recurve doubles.
Precision in Shooting
The success extended to the shooting range, where Mona Agarwal delivered a stellar performance. She clinched the gold medal in the women's 50m rifle 3 positions SH1 with a score of 357.5, adding another world-class performance to India's record-breaking tally.