Two of India's most decorated para athletes will lead the country into the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games. The Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) has named para badminton star Pramod Bhagat and para table tennis champion Bhavina Patel as India's flag bearers for the opening ceremony on October 18 in Japan.
The announcement comes as the Indian contingent gets a formal send-off in New Delhi on Thursday, October 8, ahead of the fifth edition of the continental event.
Who are India's flag bearers?
Pramod Bhagat: India's para badminton great
Pramod Bhagat is one of the biggest names in world para badminton. The Odisha shuttler is a Paralympic champion and has been a regular on the Asian podium for over a decade. Between 2014 and 2023, he won six Asian Para Games medals – two gold and four bronze – making him one of India's most consistent performers at the event.
Bhavina Patel: the paddler who broke barriers
Bhavina Patel made history as India's first para table tennis medallist at the Paralympics and has since become an inspiration for a whole generation of para athletes. The Gujarat paddler has two Asian Para Games medals to her name – a silver and a bronze – won between 2018 and 2023.
Between them, the two flag bearers have eight Asian Para Games medals.
What they said
Bhavina Patel called the honour a proud moment. "When you carry the Tricolour, you realise that you are representing something much bigger than yourself," she said.
PCI President and two-time Paralympic gold medallist Devendra Jhajharia praised the choice. "Both are exceptional champions who have contributed immensely to the growth of Indian para sport," he said.
Asian Para Games 2026: key facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Event | 5th Asian Para Games |
| Host | Aichi-Nagoya, Japan |
| Dates | October 18 to 24, 2026 |
| Opening ceremony | October 18, 2026 |
| India's flag bearers | Pramod Bhagat (para badminton), Bhavina Patel (para table tennis) |
| Team send-off | October 8, New Delhi |
| Chief Guest at send-off | Union Sports Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya |
| Guest of Honour | MoS Sports Raksha Nikhil Khadse |
The send-off in New Delhi
The PCI is holding a formal send-off ceremony for the team in the capital on Thursday. Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Dr Mansukh Mandaviya is the chief guest, with Minister of State Raksha Nikhil Khadse as guest of honour. Such ceremonies have become a tradition before major multi-sport events, giving athletes a moment with officials, coaches and families before they fly out.
Why these Games matter for India
Indian para sport has been on a remarkable upward curve over the last few years. Record medal hauls at the Tokyo and Paris Paralympics, and a historic showing at the previous Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, have changed how the country looks at its para athletes. Government support through schemes such as TOPS, better coaching and more media attention have all played a part.
The Aichi-Nagoya Games come right after the able-bodied Asian Games in the same region, and expectations are high. Disciplines such as para athletics, para badminton, para shooting and para archery have become strong medal sources for India, and many of the athletes travelling to Japan are world and Paralympic medallists in their own right.
For fans, the choice of Bhagat and Patel as flag bearers sends a clear message: India is entering these Games with experience, belief and big medal ambitions.
India's growing para sport story
The selection of the flag bearers also reflects how far Indian para sport has come. A decade ago, para athletes rarely made headlines. Today, names like Pramod Bhagat, Bhavina Patel, Avani Lekhara and Sumit Antil are household names, and their results are followed as closely as those of able-bodied stars. Many young athletes with disabilities now see a clear pathway into competitive sport, backed by better classification support, specialised coaching and funding.
Carrying the flag at a continental event is a recognition of that journey. For Bhagat, who has been part of every recent Asian Para Games campaign, and for Patel, whose Paralympic silver changed the profile of para table tennis in India, it is a chance to set the tone for the entire contingent from the very first day.
What happens next
After the send-off, the Indian squad heads to Japan for the final phase of preparation. The opening ceremony is on October 18, and competition runs until October 24. Watch this space for India's medal tally, results and standout performances once the action begins.
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