Sports

Asian Para Games 2026: SAI Gandhinagar honours medallists who won 16 of India’s 114 medals

By /

India won 114 medals at the Asian Para Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, and current and former athletes of the National Centre of Excellence (NCOE) Gandhinagar won 16 of them, the Sports Authority of India (SAI) said on 28 October 2026 as it felicitated the medallists.

Asian Para Games 2026: Photograph released by PIB Ahmedabad from the felicitation ceremony in Gandhinagar
Photograph released by PIB Ahmedabad from the felicitation ceremony in Gandhinagar Photo: PIB (Government of India, free to use with credit).

SAI felicitation for Asian Para Games 2026 medallists

SAI’s Regional Centre in Gandhinagar held the ceremony to honour para-athletes and to recognise their coaches and support teams. Medallists and other NCOE athletes who competed at the Games were felicitated with bouquets, and the event also acknowledged the role of families in their preparation. Prashant Singh, Regional Director of SAI Regional Centre Gandhinagar, said the centre’s priority was to provide quality coaching, facilities, nutrition and sports science support so that athletes could reach their full potential. Bibhubhushan, Deputy Director of SAI NCOE Ahmedabad, and Ishpreet Kaur, Assistant Director of the Gandhinagar centre, also attended. SAI said the results reflect the athletes’ hard work and the sustained coaching and training support available at the centre.

Key Facts

  • Games: Asian Para Games 2026, Aichi-Nagoya, Japan
  • India’s total: 114 medals (SAI)
  • NCOE Gandhinagar athletes: 16 medals
  • Ceremony: SAI Regional Centre Gandhinagar, 28 Oct
  • Gold: Shailesh Kumar, high jump

“Our priority is to provide athletes with quality coaching, facilities, nutrition and sports science support to help them achieve their full potential.”

— Prashant Singh, Regional Director, SAI Regional Centre Gandhinagar

Athletics and para table tennis medals from NCOE Gandhinagar

According to SAI, Tejalben Amraji Damor won silver in the women’s 400m T12 and bronze in the women’s 200m T12. Prachi Pandey, an NCOE Gandhinagar and Khelo India athlete, won bronze in the women’s singles class 6 para table tennis event. Among former NCOE athletes, Nimisha won silver in the T46 long jump, while Shailesh Kumar won gold in the high jump and bronze in the long jump. Para table tennis player Shubham Wadhwa, who also won medals in Japan, spoke about returning to sport after a motorcycle accident in 2015 with the support of his family, coaches and SAI. He said his goals include a medal at the upcoming World Championships. Officials congratulated the athletes and coaches and praised their contribution to para-sports.

Para-athletes thank coaches and look ahead

Prachi Pandey said that, besides sport-specific coaching, athletes at SAI receive fitness training, sports psychology support, mental conditioning, yoga and meditation, which help them improve. Tejalben thanked her coach Nitin Chaudhary, the SAI team and her family, and welcomed efforts to prepare Gujarat to host the Commonwealth Games 2030. Shubham said he hoped to perform strongly at the 2030 Commonwealth Games and at the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles. Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya separately said in New Delhi on Wednesday that India finished fourth at both the Asian Games and the Asian Para Games. Prashant Singh said the medals also reflected the dedication of coaches and the collective effort of support staff, and that SAI would keep strengthening its support as athletes prepare for future international competitions.

Why It Matters: Gujarat is preparing to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games, and centres like NCOE Gandhinagar are a key part of India's para-sport pipeline.

Also on TrendDesh: Clean sport in classrooms: India and UNESCO sign MoU for values toolkit in 13 languages · Anti-doping: Mandaviya says new law amendment will bring criminal provisions for violations

Source: PIB: SAI Gandhinagar felicitates Asian Para Games 2026 medallists · PIB: Sports Minister on India's Asian Games and Asian Para Games finishes · Sports Authority of India

Share

Today’s News 29 Oct 2026 · 19 stories

  1. Artemis III: NASA stacks SLS core stage with boosters at Kennedy ahead of tanking test1Artemis III: NASA stacks SLS core stage with boosters at Kennedy ahead of tanking testOct 29, 2026
  2. Artemis Accords: Vietnam becomes the 78th nation to sign, NASA says2Artemis Accords: Vietnam becomes the 78th nation to sign, NASA saysOct 29, 2026
  3. Ocean carbon sink has weakened by about six per cent due to climate change, UN report warns3Ocean carbon sink has weakened by about six per cent due to climate change, UN report warnsOct 29, 2026
  4. Luke Lindberg, new WFP chief, says ending conflict is the top way to cut world hunger4Luke Lindberg, new WFP chief, says ending conflict is the top way to cut world hungerOct 29, 2026
  5. Cuba embargo: UN General Assembly backs end for 34th time, but support falls to 20-year low5Cuba embargo: UN General Assembly backs end for 34th time, but support falls to 20-year lowOct 29, 2026
  6. El Obeid: UN investigators say Sudan civilians face drone strikes and mass arrests6El Obeid: UN investigators say Sudan civilians face drone strikes and mass arrestsOct 29, 2026
  7. Jaipur food safety raid: 3,180 kg of old raisins destroyed, 1,018 kg black pepper seized7Jaipur food safety raid: 3,180 kg of old raisins destroyed, 1,018 kg black pepper seizedOct 29, 2026
  8. Women journalists in conflict zones face rising online abuse, Maria Ressa tells UN8Women journalists in conflict zones face rising online abuse, Maria Ressa tells UNOct 29, 2026
  9. Rajasthan panchayat election: Jaipur district records 69.41% turnout in second phase9Rajasthan panchayat election: Jaipur district records 69.41% turnout in second phaseOct 29, 2026
  10. Ebola cases in DR Congo pass 10,000 as WHO calls for sustained response10Ebola cases in DR Congo pass 10,000 as WHO calls for sustained responseOct 29, 2026
  11. Sodium-ion battery pilot: Jaipur Discom to test storage at transformer level, first in India11Sodium-ion battery pilot: Jaipur Discom to test storage at transformer level, first in IndiaOct 29, 2026
  12. Asian Para Games 2026: SAI Gandhinagar honours medallists who won 16 of India’s 114 medals12Asian Para Games 2026: SAI Gandhinagar honours medallists who won 16 of India’s 114 medalsOct 29, 2026 · Reading now
  13. RUHS white coat ceremony: Chief Secretary tells new MBBS students there is no shortcut13RUHS white coat ceremony: Chief Secretary tells new MBBS students there is no shortcutOct 29, 2026
  14. India-EU FTA: Vice-President seeks European Parliament support to sign the deal this year14India-EU FTA: Vice-President seeks European Parliament support to sign the deal this yearOct 29, 2026
  15. AIIMS Nagpur holds SANKRAMAN 2026 medical education programme on infectious diseases15AIIMS Nagpur holds SANKRAMAN 2026 medical education programme on infectious diseasesOct 29, 2026
  16. Clean sport in classrooms: India and UNESCO sign MoU for values toolkit in 13 languages16Clean sport in classrooms: India and UNESCO sign MoU for values toolkit in 13 languagesOct 29, 2026
  17. ESTIC 2026: PM Modi asks scientists for measurable results within three years17ESTIC 2026: PM Modi asks scientists for measurable results within three yearsOct 29, 2026
  18. INS Sahyadri reaches Busan for India-South Korea naval exercise18INS Sahyadri reaches Busan for India-South Korea naval exerciseOct 29, 2026
  19. Cyclone Arnab weakens into a deep depression after Andhra landfall; NHAI clears highways19Cyclone Arnab weakens into a deep depression after Andhra landfall; NHAI clears highwaysOct 29, 2026

1 thought on “Asian Para Games 2026: SAI Gandhinagar honours medallists who won 16 of India’s 114 medals”

  1. Pingback: Clean sport: India, UNESCO MoU for classrooms | TrendDesh

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top