Asian Para Games end in Nagoya: India sign off with record 114 medals, finish fourth

India finished fourth as China leads the medal standings at the Asian Para Games. NEW DELHI: India walked out of the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games with its best ever haul of 114 medals as the week-long continental competition concluded with the closing ceremony at the Mizuho Park Athletics Stadium in Nagoya, Japan on Saturday.Two-time gold medalists Nishad Kumar and Mona Agarwal led the Indian contingent as flag bearers at the ceremony, marking the end of a landmark campaign in which the country’s para-athletes achieved historic victories, world records and podium finishes across disciplines.India finished fourth overall with 30 gold, 35 silver and 49 bronze medals, surpassing the previous best of 108 medals at the Hangzhou 2022 Games.The fifth edition of the Asian Para Games, held for the first time in Japan, brought together around 4,000 athletes and staff from 45 countries and regions. The competition featured 18 sports and more than 20 world records were reportedly set during the seven-day event.READ ALSO: Indian script history with the all-time best fourth place

India finished fourth and China leads the medal standings

China led the medal table with 435 medals, including 207 gold, while hosts Japan finished second with 186 medals – 64 gold, 60 silver and 62 bronze. Uzbekistan emerged as the third country to collect 145 medals, including 45 gold.India’s fourth place finish was particularly significant given the size of its contingent. A total of 168 para-athletes represented the country in Aichi-Nagoya compared to 309 at the previous edition in Hangzhou.President Droupadi Murmu congratulated the Indian contingent for the record-breaking performance and said the achievement reflected the athletes’ hard work, perseverance and self-belief.In a post on X, Murmu said the unprecedented medal haul will inspire the youth to dream big, work with determination and remain positive in the face of challenges. She also congratulated the entire Indian contingent.

Para athletics leads India’s medal charge

Para athletics was India’s biggest medal contributor, winning 65 medals – 22 gold, 19 silver and 24 bronze. Para badminton followed with 16 medals, including three gold, five silver and eight bronze.India also won 11 medals in para swimming, seven in para table tennis, six in para archery and five in para shooting. The contingent added two medals each in para judo and para powerlifting.

Doha will host the next edition in 2030

At the closing ceremony, athletes, officials and dignitaries gathered to mark the end of the games. Asian Paralympic Committee President Majid Rashed declared the event closed, highlighting the growing strength of para-sport across Asia and its role in building a more inclusive society.Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi also praised the determination, teamwork and sportsmanship of the athletes, describing their performances as a reminder of the “profound beauty” of para sports.The Asian Para Games began in Guangzhou, China in 2010 and evolved from the Far East and South Pacific Para Games Federation. The Aichi-Nagoya edition was the fifth leg of the event, with the sixth scheduled to be held in Doha, Qatar in 2030.For India, the closing ceremony marked the end of a historic campaign – one that raised the country’s medal tally and showed the depth and growing strength of its para-sports movement.