India’s para-athletes closed out their campaign at the Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya on Friday with a spectacular final-day flourish, securing a record-breaking total of 114 medals to cap the nation’s most successful continental appearance.
The contingent collected nine gold medals on the final day alone, marking their biggest single-day haul of the ongoing edition. Champions emerged across badminton, archery, shooting, and athletics, propelling India’s final tally to 30 gold, 35 silver, and 49 bronze medals. This performance surpassed the previous benchmark of 108 medals, which included 27 gold, achieved at the Hangzhou Games in 2023.
The achievement carried added significance as India competed with a streamlined squad of 168 athletes, representing nearly half the size of the delegation sent to Hangzhou. India maintained fourth place in the standings as the campaign drew to a close, with final positions subject to minor adjustments following remaining events.
Athletics remained the country’s primary medal provider, contributing 65 medals—12 more than the previous edition. Javelin thrower Sumit Antil spearheaded an Indian podium sweep in the men’s F42-44/61-64 combined event. The reigning Paralympic and world champion defended his title with a throw of 72.46 meters. Mahendra Gurjar secured the silver with 59.03 meters, finishing ahead of bronze medalist Sandip Sanjay Sargar, who recorded 64.48 meters. Rankings in the combined-classification event were determined using Raza points.
Pranav Soorma successfully defended his title in the men’s club throw F51, setting a Games record with a distance of 32.87 meters, while teammate Dharambir claimed bronze with 27.71 meters. On the track, Sandeep established a world record in the men’s 400m T64 by clocking 52.28 seconds for gold, ahead of compatriot Ajay Kumar, who captured bronze in a Games-record time of 53.61 seconds. Haney added another world record with a throw of 60.49 meters to win the men’s javelin F37/38 title. Additional track and field medals included a silver by Nimisha Chakkungalparambil in the women’s long jump T47 and a silver by Parmod Bijarnia in the men’s 1500m T46 with a time of 4:09.65.
The badminton contingent delivered three gold medals, anchored by Paris Paralympic champion Nitesh Kumar and tournament debutant Naveen Sivakumar. Nitesh claimed the men’s singles SL3 title by defeating compatriot and Tokyo Paralympic gold medalist Pramod Bhagat 21-18, 21-16. He later partnered with Thulasimathi Murugesan to secure silver in the mixed doubles SL3-SU5. Naveen captured the men’s singles SL4 gold by overcoming Indonesia’s Fredy Setiawan 21-9, 21-17.
Thulasimathi enjoyed a productive multi-medal campaign, teaming up with Manasi Joshi to defeat China’s Yang Qiuxia and Xiao Zuxian 21-16, 21-13 for the women’s doubles SL3-SU5 gold. Thulasimathi also earned silver in the women’s singles SU5 following a final loss to Yang, completing a three-medal haul.
Shooting contributed further milestones as Mona Agarwal broke the world record to claim the women’s 50m rifle 3 positions SH1 gold with 357.5 points. The 38-year-old previously secured gold in the women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 with a Games-record 250.0 points, edging compatriot Avani Lekhara. In archery, Paralympic champion Harvinder Singh and debutant Vijay Sundi combined to win the men’s recurve doubles gold, defeating China’s Yun Duo and Zhao Lixue 5-1 in the final. The women’s recurve doubles pair of Bhawna Choudhary and Pooja Jatyan earned silver after falling 0-6 to China’s Gao Zihan and Wang Xueqian.
India’s swimming squad exceeded expectations by collecting 11 medals, including three silver. Himanshu Nandal completed a hat-trick of bronze medals by placing third in the men’s 100m freestyle S11. The 22-year-old athlete, born blind due to optic nerve failure, finished in 1:05.90 behind Japan’s Uchu Tomita and China’s Chuanzhen Sun. Nandal also secured bronze medals earlier in the meet in the men’s 400m freestyle and 100m breaststroke S11 events, while Ravi Budigina contributed two silver medals and one bronze.
