Asian Para Games 2026: India sets record 114-medal haul, President Murmu hails para-athletes
Synopsis
India's para-athletes rewrote the record books in Aichi-Nagoya — 114 medals, multiple world records, and historic firsts across shooting, archery and badminton. With President Murmu personally saluting the contingent on X, the 2026 Asian Para Games signals that Indian para-sport has moved well beyond symbolic participation into genuine global excellence.
Key Takeaways
India finished the Asian Para Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan with a record 114 medals — 30 gold, 35 silver, 49 bronze .
The tally surpasses India's previous best of 111 medals at Hangzhou 2023 .
President Droupadi Murmu congratulated the contingent in a post on X , calling it 'unprecedented success'.
Mona Agarwal set world and Asian Para Games records in the women's 50m rifle 3 positions SH1, becoming the first Indian para-shooter to medal in the event.
Debutant Sandeep set a world record in the men's 400m T64 ( 52.28 seconds ); Haney set another in the men's javelin F37/38 ( 60.49 metres ).
Para badminton saw an all-Indian final in men's singles SL3, with Nitesh Kumar defeating Pramod Bhagat for gold.
President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday, 24 October 2026, praised India's para-athletes for their historic performance at the Asian Para Games 2026, as the country signed off from the Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, with a record tally of 114 medals — comprising 30 gold, 35 silver and 49 bronze. The haul surpasses India's previous best of 111 medals achieved at Hangzhou in 2023.
In a post on X, President Murmu said: “It is a matter of great joy and pride that our para-athletes have achieved unprecedented success at the Asian Para Games 2026, with the highest-ever tally of 114 medals. This extraordinary success, powered by hard work, perseverance and a firm self-belief among Team India has set an example that inspires our young people to remain undaunted by constraints, dream big, work with dedication and always remain positive. I once again express my heartiest congratulations to the entire Indian contingent.”
Stars of the Final Day
Two-time Paralympic champion Sumit Antil and para badminton star Nitesh Kumar were among the standout performers on the closing day. Antil clinched gold in the men's javelin throw F42-F44/F61-F64 with a throw of 72.46 metres in the T64 category. Nitesh, the reigning Paralympic champion, defeated compatriot and reigning world champion Pramod Bhagat 21-18, 21-16 in the men's singles SL3 final to take gold — a landmark all-Indian contest at the summit.
The Indian women's doubles pair of Thulasimathi Murugesan and Manasi Joshi also claimed gold in the SL3-SU5 event, defeating China's Yang Qiuxia and Xiao Zuxian 21-16, 21-13. Thulasimathi and Nithya Sre Sumathy Sivan added silver medals in the women's singles SU5 and SH6 events respectively.
World Records and Historic Firsts
India's athletics contingent delivered a string of world-record performances. Haney won gold in the men's javelin throw F37/38 with a throw of 60.49 metres, setting a world record in the T37 category. Debutant Sandeep captured gold in the men's 400m T64 in 52.28 seconds, also setting a world record, while Ajay Kumar took bronze in the same event.
In para shooting, Mona Agarwal made history by winning gold in the women's 50m rifle 3 positions SH1 with a score of 357.5, setting both world and Asian Para Games records. She became the first Indian para-shooter to win a medal in the event at the Games — a milestone in Indian para-sport history.
Para archers Harvinder Singh and debutant Vijay Sundi won gold in the men's recurve doubles. Bhawna and Pooja claimed silver in the women's recurve doubles, securing India's first-ever medal in that event at the Asian Para Games.
More Medallists Across Disciplines
Mahendra Gurjar won silver in the men's javelin T42 category with a Games Record of 59.03 metres, while Sandip Sanjay Sargar claimed bronze with a Games Record of 64.48 metres in the T44 category — completing an Indian podium sweep in that event. Pranav Soorma won gold in the men's club throw F51 with a Games Record of 32.87 metres; Dharambir added bronze in the same event.
Para table tennis players Jehan Dorab Madan and Shubham Wadhwa won bronze in the men's doubles MD4 event. At 50 years of age, Madan was the oldest member of the Indian contingent to win a medal at this edition. Para swimmer Himanshu Nandal rounded off his campaign with a bronze in the men's 100m freestyle S11 in 1:05.90, finishing with a total of three bronze medals at these Games.
What This Means for Indian Para-Sport
The 2026 tally of 114 medals marks a steady upward trajectory for India at the Asian Para Games — from 111 medals in 2023 at Hangzhou. Notably, the volume of world and Games records set this edition signals that Indian para-athletes are not merely participating but consistently setting global benchmarks. This comes amid growing institutional support for para-sport in India, including increased Paralympic funding and dedicated training infrastructure. With the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games on the horizon, the momentum built at Aichi-Nagoya is expected to shape India's preparations for the next major global stage.
Point of View
All-Indian finals, and a first-ever medal in women's recurve doubles archery. The broader story is one of institutional maturation: para-sport in India is no longer carried by one or two marquee names but by a bench deep enough to sweep entire podiums. The challenge for administrators now is to sustain this trajectory beyond Games cycles, ensuring that the athletes who set world records in Japan are not left without adequate training support in the years before Los Angeles 2028.
NationPress
24 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many medals did India win at the Asian Para Games 2026?
India won a record 114 medals at the Asian Para Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan — comprising 30 gold, 35 silver and 49 bronze. This surpasses the previous best of 111 medals achieved at Hangzhou in 2023.
What did President Droupadi Murmu say about India's performance?
President Murmu posted on X praising the contingent for their 'unprecedented success', saying the record 114-medal haul reflected 'hard work, perseverance and a firm self-belief' and would inspire young people to dream big. She extended her 'heartiest congratulations to the entire Indian contingent'.
Which Indian para-athletes set world records at the 2026 Asian Para Games?
Two world records were set by Indian athletes: Haney threw 60.49 metres to set a world record in men's javelin T37, and debutant Sandeep ran the men's 400m T64 in 52.28 seconds for another world record. Mona Agarwal also set both world and Asian Para Games records in the women's 50m rifle 3 positions SH1.
Who were the standout performers on the final day?
Two-time Paralympic champion Sumit Antil won gold in men's javelin with a throw of 72.46 metres, while Nitesh Kumar defeated compatriot Pramod Bhagat in an all-Indian men's singles SL3 badminton final to claim gold. Mona Agarwal's historic para-shooting gold also came on the closing day.
What does India's Asian Para Games 2026 performance mean for Los Angeles 2028?
The record medal haul — featuring multiple world records and historic firsts — signals a deepening of India's para-sport talent pool ahead of the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games. The breadth of success across athletics, shooting, badminton, archery and swimming suggests India's competitiveness on the global stage is no longer dependent on a handful of individuals.
