Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday extended his best wishes to India’s contingent as the Asian Para Games 2026 opened in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, praising the athletes’ determination and sporting spirit.
“As the Asian Para Games 2026 begin in Aichi-Nagoya, conveying my best wishes to the Indian contingent,” PM Modi said in a post on X.
“India is immensely proud of our phenomenal para-athletes. Their grit, dedication and indomitable spirit inspire 140 crore Indians. May they compete with confidence and give their very best,” he added.
Para-badminton player Pramod Bhagat and sprinter Simran Sharma led the Indian delegation as flag-bearers at the opening ceremony at Paloma Mizuho Stadium in Nagoya.
The contingent wore deep blue blazers with golden motifs inspired by the Indus Valley Civilisation, incorporating the Priest-King sculpture, Dancing Girl figurine and ancient seals.
India’s 281-member delegation comprises 168 athletes, 98 team officials and support personnel, and 15 contingent staff. The athletes—112 men and 56 women—will compete across 11 disciplines during the Games, which conclude on October 24.
India enters the competition after its best-ever Asian Para Games performance in Hangzhou, where it won 111 medals – 29 gold, 31 silver and 51 bronze – surpassing its previous best of 72 medals at Jakarta in 2018.
Head coach of para-athletics Satyanarayana said India was targeting around 100 medals and hoped to make a strong start.
“Para athletics will be a crucial part of our medal campaign. We are expecting to win six medals in athletics tomorrow, including two to three gold medals,” he said ahead of the opening ceremony.
He added that Nishad Kumar was in good form and could challenge his personal best and the Games record.
“The competition will be tough, with some of the best athletes from across Asia participating, but our athletes are well prepared and focused on performing to their potential, winning medals and making the country proud,” Satyanarayana said.
Para-athletics contributed 55 medals, including 18 gold, to India’s tally in 2023 and is again expected to play a leading role. Two-time Paralympic champion Sumit Antil will seek to defend his men’s javelin F64 title.
The athletics squad also includes Paralympic champions Dharambir Nain, Praveen Kumar and Navdeep Singh, alongside Paralympic medallists Preethi Pal, Deepthi Jeevanji, Nishad Kumar, Sachin Sarjerao Khilari and Hokato Hotozhe Sema.
Two-time Paralympic champion Avani Lekhara leads India’s para-shooting challenge and will defend her Asian Para Games women’s 10-metre air rifle title.
In para-archery, 19-year-old Sheetal Devi returns to defend her women’s compound title after a multiple-medal campaign in 2023.
Paralympic champions Nitesh Kumar and Pramod Bhagat spearhead the para-badminton team, which also features Paralympic silver medallists Suhas Yathiraj and Thulasimathi Murugesan, and bronze medallist Nithya Sre Sumathy Sivan.
Bhagat has won six Asian Para Games medals between 2014 and 2023, including two gold and four bronze. Fellow flag-bearer Simran won a women’s 200-metre bronze at the 2024 Paralympics and two silver medals at the previous Asian Para Games.
India’s medal tally has risen from 14 at Guangzhou in 2010 to 33 at Incheon in 2014, 72 at Jakarta in 2018 and 111 at Hangzhou in 2023.
This edition’s competitions will be held across 19 venues, with Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium serving as the main arena.
(With agency inputs)
