Asian Para Games 2026: India wins 3 bronzes in para badminton on Day 1 in Nagoya
Synopsis
India swept three para badminton bronzes at the Asian Para Games 2026 in Nagoya on 22 October — but all three pairs were knocked out by Indonesia in the semifinals. With Pramod Bhagat, Suhas Yathiraj, and Krishna Nagar all falling to Indonesian opponents, the results highlight a dominant India-Indonesia rivalry that will shape para badminton ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics.
Key Takeaways
India won three bronze medals in para badminton at the Asian Para Games 2026 in Nagoya on 22 October .
Paralympic champion Pramod Bhagat and Manisha Ramdass claimed bronze in Mixed Doubles SL3–SU5 , losing to Indonesia's Oktila and Ramdani 21-16, 13-21, 17-21 .
Suhas Lalinakere Yathiraj won bronze in Men's Singles SL4 , losing to Indonesia's Fredy Setiawan in three games.
Paralympics gold medallist Krishna Nagar and Nithya Sre clinched bronze in Mixed Doubles SH6 , going down 14-21, 18-21 to Indonesia's Marlina and Subhan.
All three Indian pairs were beaten by Indonesian opponents in the semifinals, underscoring a defining rivalry in Asian para badminton.
India's para badminton contingent delivered a strong showing at the Asian Para Games 2026 in Nagoya on 22 October, claiming three bronze medals across mixed doubles and men's singles events, even as all three pairs fell short of the final after closely fought semifinals.
Pramod Bhagat and Manisha Ramdass Win Mixed Doubles SL3–SU5 Bronze
Paralympic champion Pramod Bhagat and Manisha Ramdass secured bronze in the Mixed Doubles SL3–SU5 event after a hard-fought three-game semifinal against Indonesia's Lani Ratri Oktila and Jikmat Ramdani. The Indian pair drew first blood, taking the opening game 21-16, but the Indonesian duo fought back to claim the next two games 21-13 and 21-17, sealing their place in the final and relegating Bhagat and Ramdass to a bronze-medal finish.
Bhagat, a multiple Paralympic gold medallist, has been one of India's most decorated para athletes. His presence in Nagoya underscores the depth India now carries into international para badminton competitions.
Suhas Lalinakere Yathiraj Clinches Men's Singles SL4 Bronze
Suhas Lalinakere Yathiraj added a second bronze to India's tally in the Men's Singles SL4 event, narrowly losing his semifinal to Indonesia's Fredy Setiawan in a pulsating three-game contest. Suhas dropped the opening game 21-23 in a razor-thin exchange, before bouncing back with a dominant 21-8 win in the second to level the match. The decider remained neck-and-neck until the 11-point mark, when Setiawan pulled clear to seal the match 21-15, ending the final score at 23-21, 8-21, 21-15 in the Indonesian's favour.
Suhas, a 2020 Tokyo Paralympic silver medallist in men's singles SL4, continues to be among Asia's most competitive players in his category. His performance in Nagoya further cements India's standing in adaptive badminton.
Krishna Nagar and Nithya Sre Take Mixed Doubles SH6 Bronze
Paralympics gold medallist Krishna Nagar and Nithya Sre claimed the third bronze of the day in the Mixed Doubles SH6 event, losing their semifinal to Indonesia's Rina Marlina and Subhan by 14-21, 18-21. The Indonesian pair controlled both games with clinical consistency to book their spot in the final, though the Indian duo's podium finish adds significant weight to India's overall medal haul at these Games.
India's Para Badminton Campaign in Context
The three bronzes reflect both the quality and the fierce competition India faces from Indonesia — a dominant force in para badminton across Asia. This comes amid a broader surge in India's para sports infrastructure, with growing investment in coaching, classification support, and international exposure since the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. Notably, all three Indian pairs that reached the semifinals were beaten by Indonesian opposition, highlighting a clear rivalry that is likely to define the Asian para badminton landscape in the lead-up to the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics.
India's para badminton team will continue their campaign at Nagoya, with further events still to conclude at the Asian Para Games 2026.
Point of View
But the scorecards tell a more pointed story: Indonesia beat India in all three semifinal ties, often in close contests that could have gone either way. The pattern suggests India has the talent to reach the last four consistently but is yet to crack the tactical and physical ceiling that separates bronze from gold at the Asian level. With the Los Angeles Paralympics two years away, the coaching staff will need to dissect these defeats carefully — India's para badminton programme cannot afford to keep conceding the finals to the same opponent.
NationPress
22 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many medals did India win in para badminton at the Asian Para Games 2026?
India won three bronze medals in para badminton at the Asian Para Games 2026 in Nagoya on 22 October. The medals came in Mixed Doubles SL3–SU5, Men's Singles SL4, and Mixed Doubles SH6.
Who are Pramod Bhagat and Manisha Ramdass?
Pramod Bhagat is a Paralympic champion and one of India's most decorated para badminton players. Manisha Ramdass is his mixed doubles partner; together they won the SL3–SU5 bronze at the Asian Para Games 2026 after losing their semifinal to Indonesia's Lani Ratri Oktila and Jikmat Ramdani 21-16, 13-21, 17-21.
What was the result of Suhas Lalinakere Yathiraj's semifinal?
Suhas Lalinakere Yathiraj lost his Men's Singles SL4 semifinal to Indonesia's Fredy Setiawan in three games — 21-23, 21-8, 15-21 — and secured the bronze medal. Suhas is a Tokyo 2020 Paralympic silver medallist in the same category.
Who did Krishna Nagar and Nithya Sre lose to in the semifinal?
Krishna Nagar and Nithya Sre lost the Mixed Doubles SH6 semifinal to Indonesia's Rina Marlina and Subhan 14-21, 18-21. Despite the defeat, the pair earned a bronze medal finish at the Asian Para Games 2026.
Why is India's performance at Asian Para Games 2026 significant?
India's three bronzes in a single day reinforce the country's growing strength in para badminton, particularly with multiple Paralympic medallists competing. However, all losses came against Indonesian players, highlighting Indonesia as the dominant force in Asian para badminton ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics.
