India's biggest-ever para sport challenge in Asia is under way. The 2026 Asian Para Games were declared open by Japan's Emperor Naruhito in Nagoya on Sunday, October 18, and a 168-strong Indian squad has set itself a bold target: 100 medals by the time the Games close on October 24. Para-badminton champion Pramod Bhagat and sprinter Simran Sharma carried the Tricolour at the opening ceremony.
Three years after a record haul in Hangzhou, India arrives in Aichi-Nagoya not as an outsider but as one of the continent's powerhouses in para sport.
A record contingent
The Sports Ministry cleared a contingent of 281 members – 168 athletes and 113 coaches, officials and support staff. The athletes include 112 men and 56 women, competing across 11 disciplines out of the 18 sports on the programme. This is the fifth edition of the Asian Para Games, and for the first time all 45 Asian nations are taking part.
The opening ceremony was held at Paloma Mizuho Stadium in Nagoya. The Indian team walked out in deep blue blazers with golden motifs inspired by the Indus Valley Civilisation – the Priest-King, the Dancing Girl and ancient seals – with a collar that paid tribute to the "Sapt Sindhu".
A late change of flag-bearer
The Paralympic Committee of India had first named Pramod Bhagat and table tennis star Bhavina Patel as flag-bearers. Bhavina was swapped out for Simran Sharma at the last minute so she could rest before her quarter-final on Monday, October 19. The trip to and from the ceremony venue was expected to take close to six hours – too much for an athlete with a knockout match the next day.
| Games | 5th Asian Para Games, Aichi-Nagoya, Japan |
| Dates | October 18 to 24, 2026 |
| Declared open by | Emperor Naruhito |
| Nations | 45 |
| India's contingent | 281 (168 athletes, 113 officials and staff) |
| Indian athletes | 112 men, 56 women in 11 disciplines |
| Flag-bearers | Pramod Bhagat and Simran Sharma |
| India's target | 100 medals |
| Last edition (Hangzhou) | 111 medals – 29 gold, 31 silver, 51 bronze |
| Where to watch | WAVES OTT app, Prasar Bharati Sports YouTube channel |
The stars to watch
India's squad is packed with names that have already won on the world stage. Javelin thrower Sumit Antil, the reigning Paralympic champion, leads the athletics charge. Shooter Avani Lekhara, a multiple Paralympic gold medallist, headlines the shooting team. Archer Sheetal Devi, whose story of shooting with her feet has inspired millions, is among the most watched athletes in the contingent. Pramod Bhagat leads a strong para-badminton squad, while Bhavina Patel, a Paralympic silver medallist, carries India's hopes in table tennis.
The early signs are good. Even before the opening ceremony, India's men's goalball team beat Qatar and the women's team beat Thailand in their preliminary matches on Saturday.
Why the 100-medal target is realistic
India's para sport story has grown fast. At Jakarta 2018, India won 72 medals. At Hangzhou – the 2022 edition held in 2023 – the tally jumped to 111, India's best ever. Since then, the country has delivered its strongest-ever Paralympic campaigns in Tokyo and Paris, with better funding, more international exposure and a bigger pool of classified athletes.
Para-athletics head coach Satyanarayana said he was confident in the team's preparation and determination to deliver a strong performance. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also sent his best wishes to the contingent.
What it means for fans in India
For Indian fans, this week offers a rare chance to follow para sport live every day. All the action will stream on Prasar Bharati's WAVES OTT app and the Prasar Bharati Sports YouTube channel. With athletics, shooting, archery and badminton – India's strongest medal sports – running through the week, there should be Indian podium finishes almost daily.
What happens next
The competition heats up from Monday, with Bhavina Patel's quarter-final among the first big moments for India. The athletics and shooting programmes, where India expects the bulk of its medals, run through the week. By October 24, the country will know whether its para-athletes have topped Hangzhou – and whether 100 was aiming too low.
Comments (0)