Asian Para Games 2026: India Wins 62 Medals, Stays Fifth in the Standings

India’s para-athletes are making their mark at the Asian Para Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. With medals coming from several sports, India has climbed to fifth place in the overall standings and is continuing its campaign with confidence.

The Games are being held from October 18 to 24, bringing together athletes from 45 National Paralympic Committees across 18 sports. India is competing in 11 sports, with several Paralympic champions and experienced medallists leading the challenge.

By the end of October 21, India had won 62 medals: 14 gold, 22 silver and 26 bronze, according to the latest published tally. Para athletics has been the biggest contributor so far, but Indian athletes have also made their presence felt in shooting, archery, swimming, powerlifting and other events.

So, who are the athletes behind India's strong start, and how does this performance compare with the country's previous campaign?

1. Nishad Kumar and Simran shine with two gold medals each

Para athletics has been at the heart of India's medal-winning run.

Nishad Kumar has won two gold medals — one in the men's long jump T47 and another in the men's high jump T47. His performance shows the consistency he has brought to major international competitions.

Simran has also won two gold medals. She topped the podium in the women's 200m T12 and then added the women's 100m T12 title.

Several other Indian athletes have won gold, including Rinku, Soumya, Deepthi Jeevanji, Pranav Soorma, Devender Kumar, Praveen Kumar, Sachin Sarjerao Khilari, Ayush Verma and Dilip Mahadu Gavit.

Their achievements have helped para athletics become India's strongest medal-producing sport at the Games.

2. India opens its medal account in shooting

India's campaign began with a memorable result in the women's 10m air rifle standing SH1 event.

Mona Agarwal won gold, while fellow Indian shooter and Paralympic champion Avani Lekhara took silver. The one-two finish gave India an early boost and showed the country's strength in para shooting.

For readers unfamiliar with the SH1 category, it is a classification used in para shooting for athletes who can support the weight of their firearm without needing a shooting stand.

The result was especially encouraging because both athletes have experience performing at the highest level of international competition.

3. Sheetal Devi and Payal Nag win archery silver

India has also opened its medal account in para archery.

Sheetal Devi and Payal Nag won silver in the women's compound doubles event. The Indian pair reached the final but finished behind China's team.

Sheetal has become one of India's best-known para archers. Her performances have drawn attention to the skill, precision and training involved in the sport.

The silver medal adds to India's growing collection across different disciplines and shows that the country's success is not limited to athletics.

4. More medals from powerlifting and other sports

Indian athletes have also contributed medals in other events.

Kasthuri Rajamani won silver in para powerlifting. Indian competitors have added to the overall tally through swimming, para table tennis, judo and other disciplines.

This spread matters because a country's overall performance at a multi-sport event depends on more than a few star athletes. Medals across different sports show the breadth of talent in the team.

The competition is still underway, so India's total and position in the standings can change as more events are completed.

5. How does India's performance compare with 2023?

India arrived in Japan after its best-ever Asian Para Games campaign at Hangzhou in 2023.

At that edition, Indian athletes won a record 111 medals — 29 gold, 31 silver and 51 bronze — and finished fifth overall.

That was a major milestone. India had previously won 72 medals at the 2018 Asian Para Games in Jakarta. The 2023 result was the first time the country crossed the 100-medal mark at the event.

India's current campaign is therefore being watched against a strong recent record. With 62 medals already secured by the end of October 21, the team still has time to add to its total before the Games conclude on October 24.

However, the final comparison will only be possible once all events are completed and the final medal table is confirmed.

6. Why are the Asian Para Games important?

The Asian Para Games give athletes with disabilities a major international platform to compete, represent their countries and test themselves against the best in Asia.

They also help bring greater visibility to para-sports, which often receive less attention than mainstream sporting events.

India's results in Japan highlight the work of athletes, coaches and support teams across multiple disciplines. Each medal reflects not only performance on the day, but also years of training, preparation and overcoming challenges.

The bottom line: India has made a strong start at the Asian Para Games 2026, with 62 medals and a fifth-place standing by the end of October 21. The focus now is on the remaining events and whether the team can move closer to — or even surpass — its record haul of 111 medals from Hangzhou 2023.