Asian Para Games Opening Ceremony: When and Where to Watch Live in India, Time
The 2026 Asian Para Games will begin with the opening ceremony in Nagoya, Japan on Sunday 18 October. India will be represented as its flag bearers by para badminton star Pramod Bhagat and sprinter Simran Sharma after Sharma replaced table tennis player Bhavina Patel to give her more time to rest ahead of the quarter-finals on October 19.
Around 3,000 athletes from 45 National Paralympic Committees will participate in the fifth edition of the Asian Para Games, competing in 18 sports. The games will run until October 24, with events planned in Aichi-Nagoya and neighboring municipalities.
India sent a 281-member contingent comprising 168 athletes and 113 officials and support staff to Japan. The athletes include 112 men and 56 women and will compete in 11 sports. Para athletics has the largest representation with 62 competitors, followed by para badminton with 28.
Paralympic champions Sumit Antil, Pramod Bhagat and Avani Lekhara are among the leading Indian athletes competing at the Games. India will look to build on their performances from previous editions of the continental event.
Simran Sharma joins Pramod Bhagat as India’s flag bearer at the opening ceremony after the Paralympic Committee of India changed its original selection.
Bhavina Patel was initially named alongside Bhagat, but the table tennis player will now be able to focus on the quarter-finals scheduled for October 19. The change was made to give her enough rest before the match.
Where will the opening ceremony of the 2026 Asian Para Games be held?
The opening ceremony will be held at Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium, also known as Paloma Mizuho Stadium, in Nagoya, Japan.
The ceremony will kick off seven days of competition at the fifth edition of the Games, which will be held under the theme “Imagine One Heart”.
When and where to watch opening ceremony of Asian Para Games 2026 live in India?
The launch event is scheduled for Sunday, October 18 at 2:30 PM IST. In Japan, the ceremony will begin at 6pm local time.
The event will be streamed live on the FanCode app and website in India. DD Sports may also telecast the ceremony subject to official confirmation.
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