Asian Para Games 2026: India clears 281-member contingent
Why in the news
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports cleared a 281-member Indian contingent for the 5th Asian Para Games, to be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from 18 to 24 October 2026.
Key facts
- Contingent: 168 athletes (112 men, 56 women), 98 team officials and support staff, and 15 contingent staff.
- Disciplines: India will compete in 11 sports.
- Flag bearers: Paralympic champions Pramod Bhagat (para badminton; six Asian Para Games medals) and Bhavina Patel (para table tennis; two medals).
- Smaller squad: down from 303 athletes at Hangzhou 2023, as blind chess, para rowing and para canoeing are not on the programme and quotas are tighter.
| Discipline | Athletes |
|---|---|
| Para athletics | 62 |
| Para badminton | 28 |
| Para swimming | 16 |
| Para shooting | 13 |
| Para archery | 11 |
| Blind football / Para table tennis | 10 each |
| Para powerlifting | 8 |
| Para judo | 7 |
| Boccia | 2 |
| Para cycling | 1 |
About India at the Asian Para Games
At Hangzhou 2023, India won a record 111 medals (29 gold, 31 silver, 51 bronze) and finished fifth in the medal table. Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya was chief guest at the Paralympic Committee of India’s send-off for the 2026 squad.
Exam angle
- Host: Aichi-Nagoya, Japan; dates 18-24 October 2026.
- Flag bearers: Pramod Bhagat and Bhavina Patel.
- Hangzhou 2023 tally: 111 medals, 29 gold.