India aims for a strong start to its medal campaign on Day 1 of the 2026 Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, with prominent athletes competing in para athletics, para swimming, para powerlifting, para archery and para shooting.
Paralympic medallists Nishad Kumar and Ajeet Singh Yadav, alongside world champion Rinku Hooda, will spearhead India’s para athletics effort. Additionally, Indian competitors seek podium finishes in para swimming and para powerlifting.
In para archery, experienced athletes Harvinder Singh, Sheetal Devi and Payal Nag will aim to secure early medals. Avani Lekhara will lead India’s challenge in para shooting as the country strives to increase its medal tally.
The competition schedule for Indian athletes on October 19 includes:
- From 4:30 AM, para archery events featuring Harvinder Singh, Vijay Sundi, Sheetal Devi, Payal Nag and Swati Chaudhary in individual, doubles and mixed ranking rounds.
- Early para badminton matches from 5:30 AM involving Nitesh Kumar, Thulasimathi Murugesan, Ruthick Ragupathi, Manasi Joshi, Prem Kumar Ale, Sudarsan Muthusamy, Krishna Nagar and others across singles and doubles categories.
- Para shooting qualifications starting at 6:30 AM with Swaroop Unhalkar, Rakesh Nidagundi, Anandha Krishnan, Avani Lekhara and Mona Agarwal.
- Para table tennis contests including Baby Sahana Ravi, Sonalben Patel, Ekta Bhyan, Savita Ajjanakatti and others in various class groups.
- Boccia and para cycling events also early in the day, with athletes such as Anjali Devi, Sachin Chamaria and Arshad Shaikh competing.
- Para swimming heats, including Swatik Patil, starting from 7:32 AM and finals for Gopichand Lingutla, Niranjan Mukundan and Vaishnavi Jagtap in the afternoon.
- Key para athletics finals in the afternoon include Nishad Kumar in men’s long jump T47, Ajeet Singh Yadav and Rinku Hooda in men’s javelin throw F46, and several women’s middle-distance track events.
- Para powerlifting medal events for Jaspreet Kaur and the men’s 59kg category take place from 1:00 PM and 2:30 PM respectively.
- Several badminton and table tennis matches will continue throughout the day, featuring top athletes from India and competing nations.
India’s roster of athletes is scheduled to compete across a broad range of disciplines from early morning until evening, with numerous medal events highlighted in para athletics, swimming, powerlifting and other sports.