PM Modi to Address Indian Para Squad Preparing for 2026 Asian Games

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to interact with the Indian team ahead of the 2026 Asian Para Games this Thursday. The dialogue will occur at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex starting at 4:30 PM, followed by a motivational speech from the head of government. Participants will include para-athletes, trainers, bureaucrats from the sports ministry, federation delegates, and top brass from the Indian Olympic and Paralympic Committees.

The preparations come on the heels of a record-breaking showing at the Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Out of 97 athletes, India brought home 114 medals, breaking down to 30 gold, 35 silver, and 49 bronze. This tally surpasses the previous high of 108 medals with 27 golds achieved in Hangzhou in 2023.

Back-to-back centuries in medal counts demonstrate India's rising footprint in adaptive sports. Athletics remained the top medal provider with 65 hauls, featuring 22 golds, 19 silvers, and 24 bronzes. Para-badminton added 16 medals, including three golds, five silvers, and eight bronzes. Swimmers contributed 11 medals, taking home three silvers and eight bronzes.

The medal distribution across other disciplines was equally impressive. Archery yielded six medals with three golds. Shooting brought five medals comprising two golds, two silvers, and one bronze, while also bagging two quota berths for the 2028 Paralympics. Table tennis earned seven bronzes, powerlifting took two silvers, and judo secured one silver and one bronze.

Personal triumphs were a highlight of the tournament. Javelin champion Sumit Antil successfully defended his title in the men's F42-44/F61-64 category, reinforcing India's podium sweep. Sprinter Simran Sharma stunned the competition by claiming gold in the women's 100m and 200m T12 events, setting fresh game records.

Mona Agarwal dominated the women's 50m Rifle Three Positions SH1 event with a record score, winning gold and securing two shooting qualifications for the 2028 Paralympics. Additionally, 50-year-old Jehan Dorab Madan claimed a table tennis bronze, officially becoming the oldest Indian medalist in the history of the Asian Para Games.