India began its medal campaign at the 2026 Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, on Monday, October 19, with several accomplished athletes preparing to compete across para-athletics, swimming, powerlifting, archery and shooting. Paralympic medallists Nishad Kumar and Ajeet Singh Yadav, alongside world champion Rinku Hooda, are among the leading Indian names expected to feature in key medal events on the opening day.
The Indian contingent is aiming to build momentum early in the competition, with multiple finals scheduled across different sports. Experienced competitors such as Avani Lekhara, Harvinder Singh and Sheetal Devi are also part of India's challenge as the team looks to convert its international experience into strong results.
Nishad Kumar Targets a Strong Start in Para-Athletics
Nishad Kumar is scheduled to compete in the men's long jump T47 final, one of the major athletics events involving Indian athletes on the opening day.
Known for his achievements in high jump at international competitions, Nishad brings considerable experience to the Indian team. His appearance in the long jump event adds another opportunity for him to contribute to India's campaign.
The competition will require athletes to combine speed, technique and consistency across their attempts. As with all field events, the final standings will depend on the distances recorded during the competition.
Deepthi Jeevanji is another Indian athlete to watch, with the women's 400m T20 heats on the day's programme. Her performance will determine the next stage of her campaign in the event.
Ajeet Singh Yadav and Rinku Hooda in Javelin Final
India will also look towards Ajeet Singh Yadav and Rinku Hooda in the men's javelin throw F46 final.
Both athletes have established themselves in para-athletics, and their participation gives India a strong presence in the throwing events. Javelin competition depends on a combination of strength, release technique and control, with each athlete attempting to record the best possible distance.
The final is scheduled for the afternoon in Japan, making it one of the important events on India's opening-day athletics calendar.
Other Indian athletes are also competing in track and field, including events involving middle-distance runners and sprinters. These competitions will provide additional opportunities for the contingent to advance and challenge for medals.
Avani Lekhara Leads India's Shooting Campaign
Para-shooting is another major focus for India on October 19. Avani Lekhara and Mona Agarwal competed in the women's 10m air rifle standing SH1 qualification round.
Mona finished first in the qualification standings, while Avani placed second, securing the top two positions for India ahead of the final. The result offered an encouraging start to the shooting campaign and put both athletes in contention for medals.
India's men's air rifle competitors also took part in qualification, with Swaroop Mahavir Unhalkar, Rakesh Nidagundi and Anandha Krishnan H among the athletes representing the country.
Sheetal Devi and Harvinder Singh in Para-Archery
India's para-archers also began their campaigns in Nagoya. Sheetal Devi and Payal Nag competed in the women's compound ranking round, while Harvinder Singh and Vijay Sundi took part in the men's recurve ranking events.
Sheetal delivered a standout performance, scoring 704 points out of 720 to equal the world record in the women's compound ranking round and establish a new Asian record.
Harvinder, a Paralympic champion, is among India's most experienced archers and will be looking to build on his record at major international competitions.
The ranking rounds determine athletes' positions for subsequent stages, making a strong start valuable even though the rankings themselves do not decide the final medal winners.
Swimming and Powerlifting Add to India's Opportunities
India also has competitors in para-swimming and para-powerlifting on the opening day. Jaspreet Kaur is scheduled for the women's 45kg powerlifting final, while Manish Kumar and Paramjeet Kumar are listed in the men's 59kg final.
In swimming, Indian athletes are scheduled to contest medal events across several classifications, including the men's 400m freestyle and 100m events.
With multiple disciplines taking place throughout the day, India's medal prospects extend well beyond athletics. The opening results will help establish the team's momentum as the competition progresses.
India's focus now remains on turning strong performances into podium finishes while maintaining consistency across the Games.
