Stories
India Eyes Strong Para Asian Games Campaign Despite Reduced Contingent
- •India is fielding a much smaller contingent of around 168 athletes across 11 disciplines at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games, compared to 303 in Hangzhou in 2023.
- •Tighter participation quotas and event changes have reduced the team size, making it a challenge to match the record-breaking 111-medal haul from the previous edition.
- •Para-athletics remains India's biggest contributor, though the team's depth has halved with competitors dropping from 123 to 62.
- •Star athletes like Sumit Antil, Sheetal Devi, Avani Lekhara, and Pramod Bhagat will lead India's medal hopes across various disciplines.
- •The campaign faces headwinds from recent selection disputes and controversies in para-shooting and para-cycling.
Key Questions Answered
India is fielding around 168 athletes across 11 disciplines at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games, which is significantly smaller than the 303 athletes sent to Hangzhou in 2023 due to tighter participation quotas and event changes. According to alternative reports, the overall contingent features 281 members comprising 168 athletes and 113 officials.
Para-athletics remains central to India's campaign despite its squad dropping from 123 to 62 competitors, with stars like Sumit Antil and Nishad Kumar leading the charge. Archery, featuring armless archer Sheetal Devi, and para-badminton, led by Pramod Bhagat and Suhas LY, are also crucial medal pillars alongside shooting and table tennis.
The build-up faced friction due to selection disputes in para-shooting and para-cycling, where about 150 para-shooters petitioned the Sports Authority of India alleging financial irregularities and pressure regarding cash awards. Meanwhile, para-cycling faced controversy when the ministry cleared only Arshad Shaik out of six recommended cyclists, raising concerns about qualification pathways.
