India's exceptional campaign at the Asian Para Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya reached another milestone on the fifth day of action. Demonstrating remarkable composure and elite skill across venues, Indian athletes secured crucial podium finishes in both individual and team disciplines. The day was highlighted by commanding performances on the badminton court and the archery range, where competitors claimed top honors. Thanks to these gold and silver finishes, India crossed the 90-medal threshold in the overall standings, further consolidating its presence among the leading contingents at the continental showpiece.
All-Indian Final in Badminton Yields Gold and Silver
The badminton arena witnessed an all-Indian final in the men's singles SL3 category, ensuring that both top podium spots belonged to India. Nitesh Kumar squared off against compatriot Pramod Bhagat in a closely contested battle for continental supremacy. Nitesh Kumar maintained consistent control of the rallies, taking the match in straight sets with a 21-18, 21-16 scoreline. The triumph handed Nitesh the gold medal, while Pramod secured a well-deserved silver for his efforts throughout the tournament.
The badminton contingent added further value in the women's singles SU5 division, where Thulasimathi Murugesan represented India in the gold medal match. Facing stiff competition, Thulasimathi mounted a resilient effort before ultimately settling for the silver medal, adding another valuable point to India's rising aggregate.
Recurve Archers Defeat China for Gold in Team Event
India's para-archery contingent maintained its outstanding form on the range, headlined by a commanding display in the men's recurve team competition. The pair of Harvinder Singh and Vijay Sundi went up against China in the gold medal clash. After splitting points in a closely matched opening set that ended in a draw, the Indian archers raised their accuracy. Harvinder and Vijay swept the subsequent two sets to register an emphatic 5-1 victory over their Chinese opponents, sealing another gold medal on the day.
In the women's recurve doubles final, the Indian tandem of Pooja Jatyan and Bhawna Choudhary engaged in another high-stakes battle against China. Despite producing solid scoring rounds, the pair could not overcome their rivals, concluding their tournament run with a hard-fought silver medal.
Track Success and the Pursuit of the Century Mark
Track and field events contributed meaningfully to the medal haul on the fifth day. In the men's 1500m T46 race, Pramod showcased great endurance and tactical racing to cross the finish line in second place, securing a silver medal and replicating the achievement he recorded at the previous edition in Hangzhou.
Having accumulated 26 medals across the opening four days of the competition, India's medal tally surged beyond the 90-medal mark with the latest round of podium finishes. With strong momentum across several sporting disciplines, the contingent is now firmly focused on crossing the 100-medal threshold and surpassing its previous best performance at the games.
