Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, 5 November 2026, met and congratulated India's para-athletes at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex in New Delhi, celebrating the country's record-breaking haul of 114 medals at the Asian Para Games 2026 held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Modi described the journey from 14 medals in 2010 to 114 in 2026 as a testament to the athletes' hard work, dedication, and a strengthened support ecosystem built around para-sports.

A Historic Performance in Aichi-Nagoya

India's 97 para-athletes returned with 114 medals — comprising 30 gold, 35 silver, and 49 bronze — finishing fourth in the overall medal standings. The tally surpassed the country's previous best of 108 medals, including 27 gold, set at the 2023 edition in Hangzhou, China. The contingent also set five world records and nine Asian records during the Games, underlining a qualitative leap, not just a numerical one.

What PM Modi Said

'I had been eagerly waiting to meet all of you. Just a few weeks ago, I met the athletes who participated in the Asian Games. Now, I have the opportunity to meet all of you energetic companions from the Asian Para Games,' Modi told the assembled athletes. He praised their achievements as proof of India's growing stature: 'Your outstanding performance shows that India is rapidly emerging as a major power in the world of sports. At such a big platform, you have not only won medals but also the hearts of crores of countrymen.'

Modi also paid tribute to the support system behind the athletes: 'Your families, trainers and coaches have also played an important role in this achievement, and I extend my greetings to them as well.'

Record-Breaking Milestones

Beyond the aggregate medal count, Modi highlighted several standout achievements. Indian athletes swept the podium in four events, winning gold, silver, and bronze in the same discipline. On the final day of competition alone, the contingent claimed nine gold medals. 'It seemed as if you had decided that as long as the Games continued, the medals should not stop coming,' Modi remarked.

Women athletes drew special recognition. Of the 56 women in the contingent, 34 emerged as medal winners — a figure Modi described as another landmark achievement of the campaign.

The Long Arc: From 2010 to 2026

To put the milestone in context, Modi recalled that India had won just one gold medal and 14 medals in total at the 2010 Asian Para Games, when participation in many sports was, as he put it, 'considered merely a formality.' The intervening sixteen years saw consistent improvement across successive editions, culminating in this record haul. 'The journey from 14 to 114 medals is the result of the pinnacle of your hard work. This journey is a direct outcome of your dedication, unwavering commitment and the strong ecosystem created to support your success,' Modi said.

What This Signals for Indian Para-Sports

India's performance at the 2026 Asian Para Games arrives at a moment when the Centre has ramped up investment in sports infrastructure and athlete welfare under schemes such as the Khelo India programme. The podium sweeps and world records suggest the country is not merely accumulating medals but competing at the frontier of para-athletic performance. With the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics on the horizon, the contingent's form in Aichi-Nagoya will likely serve as a benchmark for selection and preparation cycles ahead.