PM Modi Hails 'Historic' 114-Medal Haul: Para-Athletes Honoured After Asian Para Games 2026 Triumph
Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacts with Indian para-athletes who secured a historic 114 medals at the Asian Para Games 2026 in Japan.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday held a special interaction with the Indian contingent that competed in the Asian Para Games 2026 in Japan, celebrating a landmark achievement in the nation's sporting history. The event, held at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex in New Delhi, served as a victory lap for the athletes who secured a record-breaking 114 medals, marking India's most successful campaign ever at the continental event.
Joining the Prime Minister was Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, who also congratulated the athletes for their grit and determination. The Prime Minister had previously expressed his pride on X, stating that the exceptional determination of every contingent member has inspired countless citizens across the country.
Breaking Records: A Historic Tally
India's performance in Japan was nothing short of extraordinary. The country concluded the games with a total of 114 medals, consisting of:
- Gold: 30
- Silver: 35
- Bronze: 49
This haul surpasses the previous best of 108 medals from the last edition. Notably, this victory is even more significant given the size of the contingent; only 168 para-athletes represented India in 2026, a stark contrast to the 309 athletes who competed in the Hangzhou edition.
Dominance on the Court and Field
The success was spread across multiple disciplines, with several athletes delivering world-record performances and podium sweeps.
Para-Badminton Brilliance
The badminton courts witnessed an all-Indian finale in the men's singles SL3, where reigning Paralympic champion Nitesh Kumar defeated world champion Pramod Bhagat (21-18, 21-16) to take gold, leaving Bhagat with the silver.
In the women's category, Thulasimathi Murugesan and Manasi Girishchandra Joshi clinched gold in the SL3-SU5 doubles by defeating China's Qiuxia Yang and Zuxian Xiao. Thulasimathi further added a silver in the SU5 singles, while Nithya Sre Sumathy Sivan secured silver in the SH6 singles.
Precision in Para-Archery
The archery range saw historic moments as Harvinder Singh and debutant Vijay Sundi captured gold in the men's recurve doubles. Additionally, 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.
Track and Field Mastery
India's strength in athletics was evident through a series of world and Games records:
- Javelin Throw (F37/38): Haney secured gold with a throw of 60.49 metres, setting a world record in the T37 category.
- 400m T64: Debutant Sandeep stormed to gold in 52.28 seconds, establishing a world record in the T44 category, while Ajay Kumar took home the bronze.
- Javelin Throw (F42-F44/F61-F64): India achieved a complete podium sweep. Sumit won gold (72.46 metres), Mahendra Gurjar took silver with a Games record of 59.03 metres, and Sandip Sanjay Sargar claimed bronze with a Games record of 64.48 metres.
- Club Throw F51: Pranav Soorma dominated the event to win gold with a Games-record throw of 32.87 metres, while Dharambir secured the bronze.
"What an extraordinary achievement by our para-athletes... This is an occasion of immense pride and joy for the entire nation!" — Prime Minister Narendra Modi