India Makes a Dazzling Start at Asian Para Games 2026: 11 Medals on Opening Day

Team India has burst out of the gates at the 5th Asian Para Games 2026, putting up a stellar performance on Monday to capture a remarkable 11 medals (4 Gold, 5 Silver, 2 Bronze). Setting a high benchmark right from day one, India’s elite athletes showcased phenomenal grit, multiple podium sweeps, and record-breaking displays to cement the nation's place among the tournament's early powerhouses.

Golden Glory: Four Champions Rise to the Top

​India's opening-day surge was spearheaded by four gold-winning performances across shooting, athletics, and track events:

Mona Agarwal (Para Shooting): Mona shot to glory in the women's 10m air rifle standing SH1 final, clinching the gold medal with a phenomenal, record-shattering score of 250.0 points to set a new Asian Para Games record.

Nishad Kumar (Para Athletics): Making a sensational debut appearance in long jump, the multi-time Paralympic star dominated the men's T47 long jump, leaping an incredible 7.11m to secure the gold.

Soumya Kumar B (Para Athletics): Displaying magnificent tactical awareness and stamina, Soumya clinched the women's 1500m T12/T13 title, crossing the finish line in a personal-best time of 5:12.39 alongside her guide.

​Rinku Hooda (Para Athletics): In a heart-pounding finish for the men's javelin throw F46, Rinku snatched the gold with a brilliant season-best throw of 65.11m on his final attempt.

Dominant 1-2 Finishes and Silver Highlights

​India’s strength in depth was on full display as our champions secured multiple podium sweeps, locking out top positions in several events:

Avani Lekhara (Silver - Women's 10m Air Rifle SH1): Finishing right behind Mona Agarwal with 249.6 points, Avani secured a stellar 1-2 finish for India in shooting.

Ajeet Singh (Silver - Men's Javelin F46): Ajeet threw a brilliant 65.02m, rounding out a dramatic 1-2 finish alongside compatriot Rinku Hooda.

​Radha Venkatesh (Silver - Women's 1500m T12/T13): Radha crossed behind Soumya with a strong timing of 5:30.90 to complete a memorable 1-2 sweep on the track.

​Kokila (Silver - Women's Judo J2 -52kg): Fought hard through rigorous rounds to secure a well-earned silver on the tatami.

​Ravi Karthik Budigina (Silver - Men's 100m Freestyle S13): Clocked an impressive 56.68 seconds to finish second in the pool.

Bronze Resilience

​Kapil Parmar (Bronze - Men's Judo J1 -70kg): Demonstrated immense tactical skill to secure a podium finish.

​Ravanni Valasanaini (Bronze - Women's 1500m T11): Overcame a competitive field to clock a personal-best time of 5:41.85 and claim the bronze.

Beyond the Podium: Records and Early Momentum

​In addition to the confirmed medals, Indian athletes delivered encouraging results that point toward an extraordinary campaign ahead. Ace archer Sheetal Devi matched the world record during the women's compound archery qualification round, while Indian contenders in badminton and table tennis advanced smoothly into the semifinal stages, assuring the nation of more hardware in the coming days.

​Sitting strong in the upper echelons of the early medal standings, Team India's opening display at Aichi-Nagoya 2026 has set an inspirational tone for the rest of the week.