INDIA produced a staggering masterclass in determination and athletic excellence on Tuesday, as the Asian Para Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya bore witness to a historic medal rush. With a haul of 24 medals secured on Day 2 alone—including five golds—the Indian contingent has firmly announced its arrival as a powerhouse in the continental arena.
As the dust settled on a whirlwind day of competition, India sat comfortably in sixth place in the overall standings with a total of 35 medals: nine gold, 11 silver, and 15 bronze. Athletics, serving as the heartbeat of the nation’s campaign, accounted for a remarkable 20 of those medals, proving once again that the track and field stars are the engines driving India’s soaring ambitions on the international stage.
Nishad, Deepthi lead India’s golden charge
The headline act of the day belonged to the indomitable Nishad Kumar. In an awe-inspiring display of consistency, the two-time Paralympic silver medallist added the men’s high jump T47 gold to the long jump title he captured just 24 hours prior. By clearing a massive 2.04m, Nishad not only secured his second gold of the Games but also etched his name into the record books with a new Games record. His achievement sees him join elite company, becoming only the third Indian athlete to secure two gold medals in a single edition of the Asian Para Games, following in the footsteps of Ankur Dhama and the legendary armless archer Sheetal Devi.
The track was equally kind to Deepthi Jeevanji, the 23-year-old sensation from Telangana. Reaffirming her status as the queen of the 400m T20, Deepthi clocked a blistering 56.36 seconds, setting a new Games record. Having already tasted success as a world champion and a Paris Paralympics bronze medallist, the young sprinter’s performance was a masterclass in pacing and poise, securing her second consecutive Asian Para Games gold.
The golden momentum carried over to the women’s 200m T12 final, where Simran delivered a commanding performance to take the gold with a Games-record time of 24.80 seconds. Her triumph was all the more remarkable given the logistical challenges she faced, including fatigue and limited dietary options. Adding to the joy, debutant Tejalben Damor climbed the podium for a bronze, marking a personal best of 25.23 seconds in the same race.
The field events also bore fruit for the Indian team. Pranav Soorma dominated the men’s discus throw (combined F51/52/53) with an Asian-record effort of 11.66m, leading a 1-2 finish with compatriot Ram Ratan Singh taking the silver. Devender Kumar rounded out the day’s golden quintet by clinching the top spot in the men’s discus throw F44/64.
Shooting, powerlifting and swimming add to the haul
Beyond the athletics arena, Indian athletes continued to showcase their versatility across a spectrum of disciplines. In the high-stakes world of shooting, Manish Narwal—a hero of the Paris 2024 Paralympics—shot his way to a silver medal in the men’s 10m air pistol SH1 event. With a score of 233.7, Narwal not only secured a medal but also successfully bagged a precious quota place for the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympics. Shrishti Arora bolstered the shooting team’s confidence with a bronze in the women’s 10m air pistol SH1, bringing India’s total shooting tally to four medals in just two days.
In the powerlifting arena, veteran lifter Ashok Kumar Malik showed his mettle in the men’s 65kg category. The 37-year-old from Haryana fought hard to secure silver with a best lift of 192kg, an improvement over his bronze medal performance in the previous edition.
Meanwhile, the pool provided two moments of immense pride for India. Himanshu Nandal, who overcame the immense challenge of optic nerve failure, clocked 5:10.91 to snatch bronze in the men’s 400m freestyle S11. Niranjan Mukundan followed suit, adding another bronze in the men’s 200m individual medley SM7.
Perhaps the most significant milestone of the day came from para table tennis, where Ravi Baby Sahana and Prachi Pandey made history by becoming the first Indians to secure medals in the standing category at the Asian Para Games. Joined by stalwarts Bhavina Patel and Sonalben Patel, the paddlers secured a collection of five bronze medals, proving that India is becoming a formidable force in table tennis as well.
Archery assures five medals; badminton stars reach last four
As the sun set on Aichi-Nagoya, the promise of further success loomed large. The para archery contingent has already guaranteed at least five medals, with finalists confirmed across individual, doubles, and mixed-team categories. The unstoppable Sheetal Devi continued her golden run, storming into the women’s compound final after a convincing 145-137 victory over Japan’s Shinohara Aya. With an Asian record already to her name, she is now firmly focused on the top step of the podium.
Similarly, in the badminton courts, India’s world champion Pramod Bhagat continued his record-breaking streak. By defeating Japan’s Daisuke Fujihara in straight games, Bhagat moved into the men’s singles SL3 semifinals, marking his fifth consecutive Para Asiad appearance—a feat of longevity and talent that few can match. He will be joined in the hunt for gold by Paralympic champion Kumar Nitesh, who dispatched his compatriot Vikram Kumar with ease.
With momentum firmly on their side and the spirit of perseverance shining through every performance, the Indian delegation enters the third day of competition not just as participants, but as serious title contenders across the board. The Asian Para Games 2026 is shaping up to be a defining moment for Indian para-sports.
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