Daijiworld Media Network - Nagoya

Nagoya, Oct 18: The Asian Para Games 2026 will officially open in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, on Sunday, with India aiming to build on its record medal haul from the previous edition in Hangzhou, China.

The fifth edition of the continental sporting event will bring together around 3,000 athletes from 45 National Paralympic Committees. The Games will continue until October 24, with competitions across 18 sports.

The opening ceremony will be held at the Paloma Mizuho Stadium in Nagoya under the theme ‘WABI: We Are Beautiful Individuals’. The ceremony is scheduled to begin at 2.30 pm Indian Standard Time.

Several events, including blind football, para-badminton, para-table tennis and boccia, are scheduled to begin before the opening ceremony.

Para-badminton player Pramod Bhagat and sprinter Simran Sharma will lead the Indian contingent as flag-bearers. Simran has replaced para-table tennis player Bhavina Patel to allow Patel adequate rest ahead of her quarter-final match on Monday.

India has fielded a 281-member contingent comprising 168 athletes and 113 officials and support staff. The athletes include 112 men and 56 women, who will compete across 11 disciplines.

The Indian squad features several prominent para-athletes, including javelin thrower Sumit Antil, para-badminton player Pramod Bhagat, para-shooter Avani Lekhara, para-archer Sheetal Devi, sprinter Simran Sharma and para-table tennis player Bhavina Patel.

At the 2023 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, India secured a record 111 medals, comprising 29 gold, 31 silver and 51 bronze, to finish fifth in the overall standings. The tally surpassed the country's previous record of 72 medals at the 2018 edition in Jakarta.

India will now look to build on that historic performance as its para-athletes prepare to compete against leading sporting talent from across Asia.