From 14 medals to 114: How India achieved more with fewer athletes at Asian Para Games

From 14 medals in 2010 to 114 in 2026, India’s remarkable rise continued in Aichi-Nagoya as a smaller contingent surpassed its previous best, achieved 30 gold medals and secured its highest-ever finish at the continental para-sport showpiece.India’s campaign at the Asian Para Games 2026 was a triumph that few would have predicted when the size of the contingent became known. With just 167 athletes travelling to Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, the prospect of repeating the 100-plus medal haul achieved at Hangzhou in 2023 appeared ambitious. The previous edition had seen India send more than 300 athletes to the competition, returning with a record 108 medals after subsequent revisions to the original tally.But the Indian contingent defied expectations, producing an even bigger return with significantly fewer athletes.