India Wins 11 Medals on Opening Day of Asian Para Games, Ranks Fourth

India made an impressive start to the 5th Asian Para Games 2026, winning 11 medals, including four gold, five silver and two bronze, on the opening day to occupy fourth place in the overall standings. China, Japan and Uzbekistan finished ahead of India.

Indian para-athletes delivered outstanding performances across para shooting, athletics, archery, judo and swimming, highlighted by two one-two finishes and a world-record performance.

Two-time Paralympic silver medallist Nishad Kumar won gold in the men’s T47 long jump with a best effort of 7.11 metres, marking his first international appearance in the discipline.

In para shooting, Mona Agarwal secured gold in the women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 event with 250.0 points, setting an Asian Para Games record. Avani Lekhara won silver with 249.6 points, completing an Indian one-two finish. Both shooters secured quota places for the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics. Mona had previously earned a quota at the World Shooting Para Sport World Championships in Changwon, South Korea, where she won silver.

India also created history in para archery as Sheetal Devi and Toman Kumar scored 1,402 points in the mixed team compound ranking round, breaking the previous world record of 1,400 points.

In the men’s javelin throw F46, Rinku Hooda won gold with a throw of 65.11 metres, while Ajeet Singh claimed silver with 65.02 metres. India had also achieved a podium sweep in this event at the 2022 Asian Para Games.

Soumya Kumar won gold in the women’s 1500m T12/13 final in a personal-best 5:12.39, while Radha Venkatesh took silver in 5:30.90. Radha had won the same event in 2022, when it was conducted as a non-medal competition due to limited participation.

In other events, Kokila earned silver in para judo, while Kapil Parmar advanced with a quarterfinal victory in the men’s J1 -70kg category. Eighteen-year-old Ravi Karthik Budigina won silver in the men’s 100m freestyle S13 in 56.80 seconds. Ravanni Valasanaini secured bronze in the women’s 1500m T11 with a personal-best 5:41.85.

The Games are being held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from October 18 to 24, with India fielding 168 athletes across 11 sports. The contingent will aim to build on its promising start and secure more podium finishes in the remaining events.