Para table tennis star Nurjahan Noorali chases Asian Games berth across Europe, Asia
Synopsis
Nurjahan Noorali's five-week European-Asian circuit is not a casual tour — it is a qualification gauntlet. Ranked 8th in Asia but needing a top-6 finish, the World No. 27 para table tennis player is racing the clock. Her comeback from childhood polio to world rankings in under three years has been remarkable; now, corporate backing and personal grit converge on a single target: the 2026 Asian Para Games in Japan.
Key Takeaways
Nurjahan Noorali , World No.
27 in Class 7 para table tennis, is competing in four ITTF tournaments across Europe and Asia from April 29 to May 21 .
She is currently ranked 8th in Asia and needs a top-6 finish to qualify for the 2026 Asian Para Games in Japan , scheduled for October.
Noorali returned to competitive play in 2022 after a childhood polio diagnosis and has won gold at the UTT National Para Table Tennis Championships and UTT Para Senior National Championship 2025–26 .
Adani Sportsline's Garv Hai initiative provides tournament guidance, coaching access, performance monitoring, and financial support.
She works as a Junior Officer at Adani Airport Holdings Limited (AAHL) in Ahmedabad , which has granted flexibility for her sporting pursuits.
Nurjahan Noorali, India's top-ranked para table tennis player, is competing across four international tournaments in Europe and Asia in a bid to secure qualification for the 2026 Asian Para Games in Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya, Japan, scheduled for October. The World No. 27 in Class 7 (per ITTF rankings) is currently ranked eighth in Asia and needs a top-6 finish to qualify — a milestone she is targeting with structured support from Adani Sportsline's Garv Hai initiative.
Tournament schedule and strategy
Noorali's campaign spans four stops: the ITTF World Para Challenger Podgorica in Montenegro (April 29–May 2), the ITTF World Para Challenger Laško in Slovenia (May 5–9), the ITTF World Para Elite Laško (May 11–15), and the ITTF World Para Elite Taipei City in Taiwan (May 17–21). The sequence of tournaments is designed to build momentum and exposure across competitive circuits ahead of the Asian Games.
From polio diagnosis to competitive resurgence
Diagnosed with polio at age five, Noorali stepped away from competitive play for years before returning in 2022. Since her comeback, she has progressed rapidly: she won gold at the Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) National Para Table Tennis Championships and retained her title at the UTT Para Senior National Championship 2025–26 in Indore earlier this year, securing the top ranking in India within her category. This trajectory — from a childhood diagnosis to world-ranked status in less than three years — underscores her competitive drive.
Employer flexibility and structured support
Nurjahan, based in Ahmedabad, works as a Junior Officer at Adani Airport Holdings Limited (AAHL). The company has granted her flexibility and leave to pursue training and international competition. Beyond employment accommodation, Adani Sportsline provides tournament selection guidance, access to recommended coaching, performance monitoring, and financial backing for overseas events — a comprehensive ecosystem that enables consistent high-level participation.
The athlete's perspective
Point of View
The fact that a World No. 27 athlete still depends on employer discretion for leave — rather than a formal national para sports fellowship or scholarship — exposes a structural gap. The 2026 Asian Para Games in Japan will test not just Nurjahan's racquet skills but India's commitment to systematic para athlete support beyond headline sponsorships.
NationPress
11 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Nurjahan Noorali and what is her ranking?
Nurjahan Noorali is India's top para table tennis player, ranked World No. 27 in Class 7 by the ITTF and 8th in Asia . She returned to competitive play in 2022 after being diagnosed with polio at age five and has since won multiple national titles.
What tournaments is Nurjahan competing in to qualify for the Asian Para Games?
She is competing in four ITTF tournaments from April 29 to May 21 : the World Para Challenger Podgorica (Montenegro), World Para Challenger Laško (Slovenia), World Para Elite Laško , and World Para Elite Taipei City (Taiwan). These events are critical to her qualification push.
What ranking does Nurjahan need to qualify for the 2026 Asian Para Games?
She needs to finish in the top 6 in Asia to secure qualification for the 2026 Asian Para Games in Japan , scheduled for October. Currently ranked 8th in Asia, this represents her immediate target.
How has Adani Sportsline supported Nurjahan's career?
Through the Garv Hai initiative, Adani Sportsline provides tournament selection guidance, access to recommended coaching, performance monitoring, and financial assistance for international competitions. Additionally, her employer, Adani Airport Holdings Limited , has granted her flexibility and leave to pursue training and competition.
When will the 2026 Asian Para Games take place?
The 2026 Asian Para Games are scheduled for October in Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya, Japan .
