The Asian Para Games 2026 will bring together Asia's leading para-athletes in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from October 18 to 24, with selected competitions beginning on October 16. India will aim to build on its impressive performance at the previous edition, where the country secured 111 medals, including 29 gold, 31 silver and 51 bronze, to finish fifth in the medal standings.
The Indian contingent features several established stars, including Sumit Antil, Sheetal Devi, Avani Lekhara, Pramod Bhagat and Bhavina Patel.
With medal contenders across athletics, badminton, shooting and archery, India will target another successful campaign at the Aichi Nagoya 2026 Para Games.
Asian Para Games 2026: Dates And Venue
Dates: October 18–24, 2026
Selected competitions begin: October 16
Opening ceremony: October 18
Host city: Aichi-Nagoya, Japan
Previous edition: Hangzhou, China, in 2023
The Asian Para Games 2026 venue plan covers multiple sporting facilities across Aichi and Nagoya. The Games will feature para-athletics, para-badminton, para-swimming, para-shooting, para-archery, para-table tennis and several other disciplines.
Asian Para Games 2026 Schedule: Key Dates
Date | Key Events |
|---|---|
October 16 | Selected preliminary competitions begin |
October 17 | Group-stage and qualification events continue |
October 18 | Opening ceremony and sporting events |
October 19–22 | Major medal competitions across athletics, swimming, shooting and other sports |
October 23 | Continued medal events and team competitions |
October 24 | Final medal events and closing ceremony |
The Asian Para Games 2026 schedule may be updated by organisers. Fans should check the official Games website for sport-wise timings and Indian athletes' fixtures.
Asian Para Games 2026 India Squad: Key Athletes
India's initial approved squad comprised 166 athletes across 10 disciplines, with para-athletics forming the largest contingent. Subsequent reports indicated the addition of boccia, so the final sport-wise entries should be checked against the latest official list.
Five Indian athletes to watch include.
Sumit Antil: The Paralympic champion and world-record holder in the men's javelin throw F64 category will be among India's leading athletics medal hopes.
Sheetal Devi: The celebrated archer, who competes without arms, won two gold medals at the 2023 Asian Para Games and gold at the Paris 2024 Paralympics.
Avani Lekhara: The Paralympic shooting champion will lead India's challenge in para-shooting.
Pramod Bhagat: The Tokyo Paralympic gold medallist is a key contender in para-badminton.
Bhavina Patel: The Tokyo Paralympic silver medallist will be one of India's leading para-table tennis players.
Other notable names include Nishad Kumar in high jump, Preeti Pal in athletics, Harvinder Singh in archery and Mona Agarwal in shooting.
India's Medal Hopes At Aichi-Nagoya 2026
India's strongest medal opportunities are expected in para-athletics, para-badminton, para-shooting and para-archery. The country's depth in athletics, combined with experienced international performers in badminton and shooting, could help it challenge for another strong finish.
However, the final medal tally will depend on competition-day performances, classifications and the strength of the participating fields. India will aim to improve on its fifth-place finish in Hangzhou and convert its athletes' international experience into podium finishes.
With several Paralympic champions in the squad, the Asian Para Games 2026 India squad will be one to watch as the continental competition gets underway in Japan.