Paralympic champion Harvinder Singh and Vijay Sundi claimed gold in the recurve men's doubles at the Okazaki Chuo Sogo Park Multipurpose Square on Friday, 23 October 2026, defeating China's Zhao Lixue and Yun Duo by 5-1 in a commanding final. Meanwhile, Pooja and Bhawana settled for silver after going down 0-6 in the recurve women's doubles final against China's Wang Xueqian and Gao Zihan. India also picked up a bronze in Men's Doubles MD4 Para Table Tennis through Jehan Madan and Shubham Wadhwa.

Gold for Harvinder and Vijay: How the Final Unfolded

The Indian pair opened with a score of 35 in the first four arrows, matching China's identical 35 to split the opening set. Harvinder and Vijay then edged ahead in the second set, shooting 37 against the Chinese pair's 36, taking a 3-1 lead in the match. The decisive third set saw the Indians produce their finest effort — a clinical 38 against China's 36 — to seal the set, the match, and the gold medal with a final score of 5-1.

Silver for Pooja and Bhawana in Women's Doubles

The recurve women's doubles final was a contrast in form. Bhawana and Pooja struggled to match the precision of the Chinese pair from the outset, scoring 31 in the first set against Wang and Gao's 38. The gap widened further — the Indians managed 30 in the second set while China replied with 35. A third-set score of 29 from India, against 39 from the Chinese, confirmed a 0-6 loss. Despite the defeat, Bhawana and Pooja secured the silver medal for India.

Mixed Doubles Heartbreak in Shoot-Off

India came agonisingly close to a third archery medal in the mixed doubles bronze medal match, where Harvinder and Bhawana faced Iran. The contest ended 4-4 after four sets, forcing a shoot-off that was equally locked at 18-18. Iran ultimately edged the bronze as their arrows landed closer to the centre than their Indian counterparts — a painful exit decided by millimetres.

Para Table Tennis Bronze for Madan and Wadhwa

Away from the archery range, Jehan Madan and Shubham Wadhwa earned India a bronze medal in the Men's Doubles MD4 Para Table Tennis event. The pair won one match and lost three in Group A, finishing fourth in their group to secure the bronze medal. The result added further depth to India's medal haul at the tournament.

India's Growing Para Sports Presence

The performances at Okazaki underline the continued rise of India's para athletes on the international stage. Harvinder, already a household name after his Paralympic exploits, extended his medal-winning run to the doubles format with characteristic composure under pressure. This comes amid a broader expansion of India's para sports programme, with funding and grassroots infrastructure steadily improving in the years since Tokyo 2020. India's medal count from this event reflects both individual excellence and a deepening talent pool. The mixed doubles near-miss will serve as motivation for the next outing.