The Asian Para Games 2026 will officially open at Aichi-Nagoya in Japan, today, with India aiming to build on its record medal haul at the previous edition. The fifth edition of the continental sporting event will bring together around three thousand athletes from 45 National Paralympic Committees. The Games will continue until 24th of October, with competitions across 18 sports.

 

The opening ceremony today will be held at the Paloma Mizuho Stadium in Nagoya under the theme, “WABI: We Are Beautiful Individuals”. The ceremony is scheduled to begin at 2:30 PM Indian Standard Time.

 

Several competitions, including blind football, para badminton, para table tennis and boccia, are scheduled to begin before the opening ceremony.

 

Para-badminton player Pramod Bhagat and sprinter Simran Sharma will lead the Indian contingent as flag-bearers during the ceremony. Simran has replaced para-table tennis player Bhavina Patel to allow Patel adequate rest ahead of her quarter-final match tomorrow.

 

India has fielded a 281-member contingent, comprising 168 athletes and 113 officials and support staff. The athletes include 112 men and 56 women, who will compete across 11 disciplines.

 

The Indian squad features several prominent para-athletes, including javelin thrower Sumit Antil, para-badminton player Pramod Bhagat, para-shooter Avani Lekhara, para-archer Sheetal Devi, sprinter Simran Sharma and para-table tennis player Bhavina Patel.

 

During the Asian Para Games 2023 at Hangzhou in China, India had secured a record 111 medals, comprising 29 gold, 31 silver and 51 bronze, to finish fifth in the overall standings. The tally surpassed India’s previous record of 72 medals at the 2018 edition in Jakarta.

 

India will now look to build on that historic performance as the country’s para-athletes prepare to compete against the best talent from across Asia.