Asian Para Games: Karthik Budigina wins silver in 100m Freestyle S13
Synopsis
Eighteen-year-old Karthik Budigina turned a Commonwealth Games near-miss into an Asian Para Games silver, giving India its first swimming medal in Nagoya. On a day when Avani Lekhara and judoka Kokila also won silvers, India's para-sports depth was on full display — and Karthik, with six medals at the 2025 Asian Youth Para Games already to his name, is only just getting started.
Key Takeaways
Karthik Budigina won silver in the Men's 100m Freestyle S13 at the Asian Para Games 2026 in Nagoya , clocking 56.68s .
Gold went to Uzbekistan's Egor Bolotov ( 52.90s ); Kazakhstan's Viktor Volkov took bronze ( 57.23s ).
It was India's first swimming medal and third overall silver at these Games.
Avani Lekhara (silver) and Mona Agarwal (gold) delivered a one-two in the Women's 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 earlier on the same day.
Judoka Kokila also claimed silver in the Women's J2 -52kg event after defeating China's reigning world champion in the semifinals.
Karthik, 18 , had won six medals at the 2025 Asian Youth Para Games , including three gold.
Indian swimmer Karthik Budigina claimed a silver medal in the Men's 100m Freestyle S13 event at the Nagoya City General Gymnasium on Monday, 19 October, delivering India its first swimming medal at the 2026 Asian Para Games in Nagoya, Japan. The 18-year-old touched the wall in 56.68 seconds, finishing behind gold medallist Egor Bolotov of Uzbekistan, who clocked 52.90s.
How the Race Unfolded
Kazakhstan's Viktor Volkov took bronze with a time of 57.23s, edging out any remaining competition and confirming Karthik's second-place finish. The margin between silver and bronze was a razor-thin 0.55 seconds, underscoring the competitiveness of the S13 category at the elite para-swimming level.
A Journey of Near-Misses and Big Moments
Karthik's silver is especially significant given his recent history at major multi-sport events. At the Commonwealth Games 2026, he narrowly missed the podium in the same event, finishing fourth in the final — an agonising result. He also placed sixth in the Men's 59m Freestyle S13 at the Glasgow Games 2026. This Asian Para Games medal represents a clear step forward in his trajectory. Notably, Karthik had a standout campaign at the 2025 Asian Youth Para Games, where he amassed six medals — three gold and three silver. His gold medals came in the 200m Individual Medley (SM11–13), 100m Butterfly (S11–13), and 100m Breaststroke (SB13) events, while silvers followed in the 100m Freestyle (S13), 100m Backstroke (S11–13), and 50m Freestyle (S13).
India's Medal Picture on the Day
Karthik's silver was India's third at the ongoing Asian Para Games. Earlier on the same day, para-shooter Avani Lekhara bagged a silver in the Women's 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 event, with her compatriot Mona Agarwal clinching gold in the same category — a remarkable one-two finish for India. Judoka Kokila also secured a silver in the Women's J2 -52kg event at the Aichi Prefectural Martial Arts Hall, after being defeated by Kyrgyzstan's Aibike Ulanbek Kyzy via ippon in just 21 seconds in the gold-medal bout. Kokila had entered the final in impressive form, having defeated China's reigning world champion Yi Liu in the semifinal to guarantee India a medal.
What This Means for Indian Para-Sports
The trio of medals on a single day reflects India's growing depth in para-athletics. With Karthik still just 18, his performances across youth and senior competitions signal that Indian para-swimming could count on him as a frontline contender at future Games, including the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics. The Asian Para Games campaign is still ongoing, and India will look to add to its tally in the remaining events.
Point of View
It appears to have sharpened him. What is equally striking is the pattern across the day: Lekhara, Kokila, and Karthik all medalling within hours suggests Indian para-sport has moved well beyond individual brilliance into a system capable of producing consistent results. The real question is whether the institutional support — coaching, classification access, competition exposure — will keep pace with the talent that is clearly emerging.
NationPress
19 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What medal did Karthik Budigina win at the Asian Para Games 2026?
Karthik Budigina won a silver medal in the Men's 100m Freestyle S13 event at the Asian Para Games 2026 in Nagoya on 19 October, finishing in 56.68 seconds. It was India's first swimming medal of the Games.
Who won gold in the Men's 100m Freestyle S13 at the Asian Para Games?
Uzbekistan's Egor Bolotov won gold with a time of 52.90 seconds. Kazakhstan's Viktor Volkov claimed bronze in 57.23 seconds, with Karthik Budigina taking silver in between.
How has Karthik Budigina performed at previous major games?
At the Commonwealth Games 2026, Karthik finished fourth in the 100m Freestyle S13 final, narrowly missing a medal. He had a stellar 2025 Asian Youth Para Games, winning six medals — three gold and three silver — across multiple swimming disciplines.
What other medals did India win at the Asian Para Games on 19 October?
Para-shooter Avani Lekhara won silver in the Women's 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 event, while Mona Agarwal claimed gold in the same category. Judoka Kokila also won silver in the Women's J2 -52kg event after defeating China's reigning world champion in the semifinals.
What is the S13 classification in para-swimming?
The S13 classification in para-swimming is for athletes with a visual impairment who retain some residual vision. Swimmers in this class compete independently without a guide, and the category is contested across all major para-sport multi-games events including the Paralympics and Asian Para Games.
