Indian athletes registered a commanding start on the opening day of the Asian Para Games 2026, delivering outstanding performances across multiple sporting disciplines. The contingent accumulated a total of 11 medals on Day 1, which featured 4 gold, 5 silver, and 2 bronze medals. Thanks to this prolific medal haul right from the outset, India secured fourth position in the overall medal standings. China leads the table with 26 gold medals and 62 total medals, followed by Japan in second place with 8 golds, and Uzbekistan holding third place with 6 golds.
Mona Agarwal Sets Games Record in Shooting Range
India opened its medal tally at the shooting range, where the women's 10m air rifle event produced an edge-of-the-seat contest between two elite compatriots. Mona Agarwal, who captured a bronze medal at the Paris Paralympics 2024, staged a remarkable comeback after dropping down to sixth position early in the final. She recovered with precision shooting to register a score of 250.0 points, claiming the gold medal while establishing a new Asian Para Games record. Two-time Paralympic champion Avani Lekhara finished closely behind with 249.6 points to secure the silver medal, as Agarwal clinched the top podium spot by a slender margin of just 0.4 points.
Nishad Kumar Scripts History in Long Jump Debut
The track and field events in the evening saw Indian para-athletes dominate their respective fields. Two-time Paralympic silver medalist Nishad Kumar claimed the gold medal in the men's long jump T47 category by clearing a mark of 7.11 meters. The victory carried historical significance as Kumar was making his maiden appearance in an international long jump competition. Having lost his right arm during his childhood in an accident involving a grass-cutting machine, Kumar converted his perseverance into a memorable triumph on the continental stage.
Double Podiums in Track and Javelin Throw Events
Indian runners also left a strong impression on the track. In the women's 1500m T12/T13 race, visually impaired runner Saumya clocked a personal best time of 5 minutes 12.39 seconds to seize the gold medal. India secured a 1-2 finish in the race as Venkatesh Radha captured the silver medal with a time of 5 minutes 30.90 seconds. The dominance continued in the field events, specifically the men's javelin throw F46 competition. Rinku launched the spear to 65.11 meters to take the gold medal, while compatriot Ajeet Singh finished in second place with a throw of 65.02 meters to take home silver. Both throwers recorded their individual season-best marks during the competition.
Sheetal Devi Equals and Sets World Records in Archery
Indian archers also contributed significantly to the historic opening day. Armless archer Sheetal Devi delivered an exceptional performance by equaling the individual world record. She then joined hands with Rakesh Kumar in the mixed team archery event, where the Indian pair combined precision and calm to establish a brand-new world record, ensuring India's campaign began on an extraordinary high across disciplines.
