India made an impressive start at the 2026 Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, winning 11 medals, including four gold, five silver and two bronze, on the opening day. The performance placed India fourth in the overall medal standings and highlighted the strength of the country’s para-athletes across multiple sporting disciplines.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the medal winners, praising their determination, dedication and sporting excellence. He said their achievements were a source of pride for the country and wished them continued success in the competition.
Nishad Kumar Leads India’s Gold Medal Charge
Two-time Paralympic silver medallist Nishad Kumar won gold in the men’s long jump T47 event with a best effort of 7.11 metres. The achievement was particularly notable as it marked his international debut in the discipline.
The Prime Minister congratulated Nishad, describing his versatility and determination as inspiring and wishing him success in his future endeavours.
In para-athletics, Rinku Hooda secured gold in the men’s javelin throw F46 event with a season-best effort of 65.11 metres, while fellow Indian Ajeet Singh claimed silver with a throw of 65.02 metres, giving India a one-two finish.
Soumya Kumar also won gold in the women’s 1,500-metre T12/T13 event, recording a personal-best time of 5 minutes 12.39 seconds. Radha Venkatesh secured silver in the same event with a timing of 5 minutes 30.90 seconds.
Mona Agarwal Sets Games Record in Para Shooting
India enjoyed another major success in para shooting, where Mona Agarwal captured gold in the women’s 10-metre air rifle standing SH1 event with a score of 250.0, setting a new Asian Para Games record.
Avani Lekhara won silver with 249.6 points, completing a memorable one-two finish for India.
The performances also strengthened India’s prospects for the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympic Games, with both athletes having secured quota places for the upcoming global competition.
Historic Achievement in Para Archery
Indian para-archers Sheetal Devi and Toman Kumar created a significant milestone in the mixed team compound ranking round by recording 1,402 points, surpassing the previous world record of 1,400 points.
The performance underlined India’s growing capabilities in para-archery and added to the country’s strong showing across different events.
Medals in Judo and Swimming
India’s medal tally also grew through strong performances in para-judo and para-swimming.
Kokila won silver in the women’s J2 52kg judo category, improving on her bronze-medal performance at the previous Asian Para Games. Kapil Parmar secured bronze in the men’s J1 70kg category.
In para-swimming, Ravi Karthik Budigina claimed silver in the men’s 100-metre freestyle S13 event, finishing with a time of 56.80 seconds.
These results demonstrated the breadth of India’s medal-winning campaign, with athletes delivering performances across shooting, athletics, archery, judo and swimming.
PM Modi Praises India’s Para-Athletes
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated several athletes individually, acknowledging their achievements and the hard work behind their success.
He praised Mona Agarwal for setting a new Games record, Avani Lekhara for her silver medal, and Rinku Hooda and Ajeet Singh for their performances in the javelin throw. He also congratulated Soumya Kumar and Radha Venkatesh on their respective gold and silver medals.
The Prime Minister’s messages highlighted the athletes’ commitment and perseverance while expressing confidence in their continued success.
India Looks Ahead to More Medal Opportunities
India’s opening-day performance at the Asian Para Games 2026 has provided an encouraging start to its campaign in Japan. With 11 medals already secured and athletes competing across a range of disciplines, the country will look to build on this momentum in the coming days.
The achievements also reinforce the growing presence of Indian para-sports on the international stage, showcasing the talent, resilience and competitive spirit of the country’s athletes.
