India's para athletes crossed the 100-medal mark at the Asian Para Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, on Friday, October 23 – a landmark the 168-member contingent had set out to reach before the Games began. Two world-record golds on the athletics track, from javelin thrower Haney and 400m runner Sandeep Singh Maan, headlined a memorable day.
With the Games closing on Saturday, October 24, India sat fourth on the medal table behind China, hosts Japan and Uzbekistan, according to the latest standings.
The Golden Moments of Day 6
Haney's last-throw world record
The biggest roar came in the men's javelin F37/38. Haney, the Haryana athlete who won gold at Hangzhou three years ago, saved his best for his final attempt, launching the javelin 60.49 metres for a world record. The Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) athlete, who trains under coach Sunil Phogat, took up the sport only in 2020.
Sandeep Singh Maan finally gets his gold
In the men's 400m, run as a combined T44/T42/T64 race at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium, veteran Sandeep Singh Maan led from the start and clocked 52.28 seconds, a world record and more than a second faster than his personal best. For the Rajasthan sprinter, who had won silver in 2010 and 2014 and bronze in 2018, it was a first Asian Para Games gold. Ajay Kumar added a bronze in the same race in 53.61 seconds.
Archery and badminton add to the haul
Earlier, Harvinder Singh and Vijay Sundi won gold in the men's recurve doubles archery, while Nitesh Kumar took the men's singles SL3 para-badminton title and Naveen Sivakumar won the men's singles SL4 final. Silvers came from Parmod in the men's 1500m T46 (4:09.65), the women's recurve doubles pair of Bhawna and Pooja, Nimisha Chakkungalparambil in the women's long jump T47 (5.37m) and Thulasimathi Murugesan in the women's singles SU5 badminton.
| Key Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Event | Asian Para Games 2026 |
| Host | Aichi-Nagoya, Japan |
| Dates | October 18-24, 2026 |
| India contingent | 168 athletes in 11 sports |
| Milestone | Crossed 100 medals on October 23 |
| Medal table position | Fourth (latest standings) |
| World record golds | Haney (javelin F37/38, 60.49m), Sandeep Singh Maan (400m, 52.28s) |
| Previous best | 111 medals at Hangzhou 2022 |
How India Got Here
India started fast in Nagoya, with shooter Mona Agarwal winning gold with a world record in the women's 50m rifle 3 Positions SH1 on the opening days. Athletics, by far India's biggest squad with 62 athletes, has delivered the bulk of the medals, with high jump, shot put, long jump and javelin producing multiple podiums. Archery stars such as Sheetal Devi and the para-badminton squad have kept the tally moving every day.
Friday's push took India past 100 medals for only the second time at an Asian Para Games, after the record 111-medal haul at Hangzhou 2022.
The Medal Race at the Top
China, as expected, have dominated the Games with well over 300 medals, while hosts Japan and Uzbekistan have stayed ahead of India in second and third. India's position is decided by gold medals rather than total medals, which is why the country remains fourth despite a healthy overall count. South Korea are close behind in fifth, so the final day's gold medal events could still matter for the standings.
For Indian fans, the more meaningful comparison is with India's own past. The country won 72 medals at Jakarta 2018 and 111 at Hangzhou 2022, and has now crossed the century again away from home – a sign that the depth of the squad is growing, not just its stars.
What It Means for Indian Sport
India's rise in para sport over the last decade has been one of the country's genuine success stories. Better funding through TOPS, foreign exposure and more para-specific coaching have helped athletes turn podium finishes into world records. A century of medals at a continental event, with two world records on a single day, confirms that the success at the Tokyo and Paris Paralympics was not a one-off.
It also matters for the athletes themselves – many of whom come from small towns and villages – as medals bring cash rewards, jobs and recognition that can change lives.
What Happens Next
The final day of competition on Saturday gives India one last chance to add medals and close the gap on its Hangzhou record of 111. Once the Games end, attention will turn to the next international para circuit and the long build-up to the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics.
Comments (0)