By Utkarsh Rathour
New Delhi [India], October 25 (ANI): Indian para-athletes, together with para-badminton participant Thulasimathi Murugesan, shooter Avani Lekhara and para powerlifter Ashok Kumar Malik, expressed happiness over their performances on the Asian Para Games 2026 in Japan as they acquired a rousing welcome on the Delhi airport following the continental occasion.
India concluded its marketing campaign on the Asian Para Games 2026 with a report haul of 114 medals, together with 30 gold, 35 silver and 49 bronze, because the nation’s para-athletes delivered world-record performances, historic victories and podium sweeps throughout a number of disciplines.
Speaking to ANI after her return, para-badminton participant Thulasimathi Murugesan, who gained silver in girls’s singles SU5 and blended doubles SL3-SU5 alongside Nitesh Kumar, and gold in girls’s doubles SL3-SU5 with Manasi Joshi, expressed happiness at reaching the finals in all three occasions regardless of the problem of balancing her sporting profession with veterinary drugs research.
“I’m very happy that I could make it to three finals. I was able to play three finals in all three events. I’m also doing veterinary medicine. So, training was so hectic and so hard, balancing both veterinary and also playing para badminton. And also it’s a career-important tournament for all the athletes. Finally, I made it. So I was just thinking on the last day about one match at a time because I had three matches in a day,” she mentioned.
Murugesan expressed happiness over India’s fourth-place end with 114 medals and devoted her medal to her father.
“We have made an historic medal of 114 and India in the medal tally. India is in fourth position now. We are very happy to know this, and I would like to dedicate this medal to my father,” she added.
Para powerlifter Ashok Kumar Malik, who gained silver within the males’s 65kg class, mentioned his efficiency had improved from the bronze medal he gained on the earlier version. He credited his assist system and mentioned he would now put together for the 2028 Olympics.
‘Last time I gained a bronze medal; this time I’ve gained a silver medal. I’ve acquired assist from my group, coach, household, village, and the Government of India. Going ahead, I’ll put together for the 2028 Olympics,’ he informed ANI.
Para desk tennis participant Baby Sahana Ravi, who gained bronze in girls’s singles Class 9, described the medal as a big milestone in her profession, having competed on the Asian Para Games for the second time.
“This being my second Asian Games and this is my first Asian Games medal, I feel very happy. I feel very proud as this is the first Asian Games medal for the standing category. So, I feel proud and more responsible because now I have to prove myself in the other upcoming prestigious events like the World Championship and Olympics. Looking forward to it,” she mentioned.
Meanwhile, her fellow para desk tennis participant, Prachi Pandey, who secured bronze in girls’s singles Class 6, thanked her coaches and household for his or her assist, notably her coach Amit.
“I would like to thank my coaches, and I was trained at SAI Gandhi Nagar. So, all the staff, they all supported me in this journey and I feel very happy and my family, they are also very happy. I dedicate my medal to my coaches and my family. My coach is Amit sir; he supported me everywhere. I’m so thankful for him,” she mentioned.
Para shooter Avani Lekhara, who gained silver within the girls’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 occasion, thanked those that welcomed the contingent and mentioned the athletes had improved on their earlier efficiency.
“I am so happy and so grateful to everyone who has come here for our team and who are celebrating our success. Thank you so much. It’s a good winning streak. It’s better than last time, and we all gave our 100%, and we all did very well. I think if we keep getting this support and encouragement, we will do better each and every year next time,” she mentioned.
Bronze medallist Shrishti Arora, who competed within the girls’s 10m air pistol SH1 occasion, described her debut on the Asian Para Games as a invaluable studying expertise and mentioned her subsequent goal is the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games.
‘It feels actually good that we performed for our nation, introduced house a medal, and that our complete nation is right here to welcome us. It was a fantastic expertise, a fantastic studying expertise because it was my first Asian Para Games. So, it was a fantastic studying expertise. The goal is certainly the LA 2028 Paralympic Games, and there are ups and downs, however you must be taught from it,’ she mentioned.
Silver medallist Manish Narwal, who gained a medal within the males’s 10m air pistol SH1 occasion, expressed confidence that India’s sporting achievements would proceed to develop within the coming years.
“India is no longer the old India; this is a new India, and it’s moving forward, gaining speed rapidly. So in the next few years, these numbers-like the 114 medals you just mentioned-will definitely double or even triple,” he mentioned.
Notably, with the 114 medals, India surpassed its earlier version’s medal tally of 108, comprising 27 gold, 32 silver and 49 bronze medals. The nation had initially gained 111 medals on the final version, however three had been subsequently stripped following doping expenses in opposition to Neeraj Yadav and Parveen.
India’s efficiency at Aichi-Nagoya exceeded expectations, notably because the contingent was considerably smaller than the one which competed within the earlier version. A complete of 168 para-athletes represented India on the 2026 Games, in comparison with 309 athletes at Hangzhou. (ANI)