India’s rising stars: 5 standout performers of record-breaking Asian Para Games campaign

In this photo taken on Oct. 24, 2026, India’s two-time gold medalist para-gunner Mona Agarwal carries the tricolor as India’s flag bearer during the closing ceremony of the 5th Asian Para Games at the Paloma Mizuho Stadium in Nagoya, Japan. (PCI via PTI Photo) India returned from the Asian Para Games in Nagoya with its all-time best medal tally of 114 medals, fueled by world records, doubles golds and medal debuts. TOI picks those who stole the show…MONA AGARWAL: Golden double and world recordMona Agarwal won gold in the women’s 10m air rifle in the SH1 position and set a world record in the three-position SH1 50m rifle. Her score of 357.5 secured her second title and made her the first Indian para shooter to win a medal in this tournament. The bronze medalist from the Jaipur Paralympics trained for the 50m event with a rented rifle and trained for long distances.PRANAV SOORMA: Two titles, two recordsPranav Soorma won gold in the men’s F51/52/53 discus throw with an Asian record effort of 11.66m before adding the F51 club title with a Games record 32.87m. Paralyzed after a spinal cord injury at 16, Soorma rebuilt his life through education and sports. His Nagoya double followed the club’s gold at the previous Asian Para Games and silver at the Paris Paralympics.NISHAD KUMAR: Two disciplines, two gold medalsNishad Kumar ventured beyond his specialty in the high jump to win the men’s long jump T47 with an effort of 7.11m, before taking gold in the high jump with a Games record-breaking 2.04m. The two-time Paralympic silver medalist entered the complementary event despite a troublesome knee and showed his versatility.SIMRAN SHARMA: Silver to GoldSimran Sharma won the women’s 200m and 100m T12 titles, bettering her two silvers from the previous Games. The visually impaired sprinter from Ghaziabad followed up her 200m triumph with a Games record 12.02s in the 100m to finish ahead of Iran’s Hajar Safarzadeh.SHETAL DEVI: A golden comebackSheetal defeated Singapore’s Nur Syahidah Alim in the singles final. She also won the women’s doubles silver with Payal Nag and the mixed team gold.FINAL AREAMona Agarwal with the Indian flag at the closing ceremony on Saturday.