Aichi-Nagoya [Japan], October 19 (ANI): India made a robust begin to its marketing campaign on the fifth Asian Para Games 2026, clinching 11 medals, together with 4 gold, 5 silver and two bronze, on the opening day to take a seat fourth within the total medal standings.
Indian para-athletes impressed throughout disciplines, together with para taking pictures, para athletics, para archery and para judo, delivering medal-winning performances and record-breaking feats to set the tone for the nation’s marketing campaign on the continental occasion.
India’s opening-day highlights included a one-two end in para taking pictures, a world report in para archery and one other one-two end within the males’s javelin throw, underlining the nation’s sturdy exhibiting throughout a number of disciplines.
India’s two-time Paralympic silver medallist Nishad Kumar clinched gold within the males’s T47 lengthy bounce on the 2026 Asian Para Games on Monday, profitable the occasion with a greatest effort of seven.11m in his first worldwide look within the self-discipline.
In para taking pictures, Mona Agarwal clinched gold within the Women’s 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 (R2), registering a rating of 250.0 to ascertain a brand new Asian Para Games report.
India’s Avani Lekhara secured silver with 249.6 factors, guaranteeing a memorable one-two end for the nation within the occasion.
The victory additionally secured India its second quota place for the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics. Mona had earlier earned a quota place on the World Shooting Para Sport World Championships in Changwon, South Korea, final month, the place she gained silver. Avani additionally secured a quota place for the Los Angeles Paralympics together with her silver-medal end.
India additionally witnessed a historic second in para archery, with Sheetal Devi and Toman Kumar setting a brand new world report within the combined crew compound rating spherical.
The Indian duo mixed for a formidable 1,402 factors, surpassing the earlier world report of 1,400 factors and underlining India’s rising power within the self-discipline.
In para athletics, Rinku Hooda gained gold within the Men’s Javelin Throw F46 with a greatest effort of 65.11 metres, whereas Ajeet Singh secured silver with a throw of 65.02 metres. The consequence delivered one other one-two end for India and added beneficial medals to the nation’s tally.
At the 2022 Asian Para Games, India achieved a podium sweep on this occasion, with Sundar Singh Gurjar profitable gold and setting a World Record of 68.60m, Rinku profitable silver with 67.08m, and Ajeet Singh taking bronze with 63.52m.
Soumya Kumar continued India’s sturdy exhibiting by profitable gold within the Women’s 1500m T12/13 remaining, clocking a personal-best time of 5:12.39.
Radha Venkatesh adopted her compatriot throughout the end line to assert silver in 5:30.90, finishing one other memorable consequence for the Indian contingent.
The consequence was significantly important for Radha, who had completed first in the identical occasion on the 2022 Asian Para Games with a time of 5:19.35.
However, the occasion was held as a non-medal competitors on that event because of the restricted variety of members.
In para judo, Kokila secured a silver medal, including to India’s rising medal depend on the opening day. Kapil Parmar, in the meantime, registered an essential quarterfinal victory within the Men’s J1 -70kg class as he continued his marketing campaign.
18-year-old Ravi Karthik Budigina secured silver within the males’s 100m freestyle S13, clocking 56.80 seconds.
While, Ravanni Valasanaini clinched the bronze medal within the Women’s 1500m T11 remaining with a private greatest time of 5:41.85.
At the 2022 Asian Para Games, India secured two medals on this occasion, with Radha Venkatesh profitable gold in 5:21.45 and Lalitha Kilaka claiming silver in 5:48.85.
With 4 gold, 5 silver and two bronze medals, India ended the opening day in fourth place within the total standings, behind China, Japan and Uzbekistan.
The opening-day efficiency displays the preparation, willpower and aggressive spirit of India’s para-athletes, who’ve arrived in Aichi-Nagoya aiming to ship a robust efficiency in opposition to the continent’s greatest.
As competitors continues by means of October 24, India will look to construct on this promising begin, with its athletes focusing on additional podium finishes and new milestones throughout the remaining days of the Games.
The fifth Asian Para Games are being held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from October 18 to 24, 2026, bringing collectively para-athletes from throughout Asia to compete throughout a number of sports activities. India has fielded 168 athletes throughout 11 sports activities, with the contingent aiming to make a robust affect on the continental occasion. (ANI)