Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday extended his best wishes to the Indian contingent participating in the Asian Para Games 2026, saying the country was immensely proud of its para-athletes.
The Games began on Sunday in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, and will conclude on October 24. India has fielded 168 athletes, including 112 men and 56 women, who will compete across 11 disciplines.
“As the Asian Para Games 2026 begin in Aichi-Nagoya, conveying my best wishes to the Indian contingent. India is immensely proud of our phenomenal para-athletes,” Modi said in a post on X.
The prime minister said the athletes’ grit, dedication and indomitable spirit inspired 140 crore Indians, and wished them confidence and success in their competitions.
Meanwhile, the Indian contingent brought a touch of the country’s rich cultural heritage to the opening ceremony, with athletes wearing ceremonial blazers featuring motifs inspired by 5,000 years of civilisation.
More than 100 Indian athletes participated in the ceremony, led by Paralympic medallist sprinter Simran Sharma and leading badminton player Pramod Bhagat, who carried the national flag as the contingent marched with the Tricolour.
The blazers featured prints of seals from the Indus Valley Civilisation, drawing inspiration from the ancient script and motifs of one of the world’s oldest civilisations.
“Team India walked out wearing more than just ceremonial dress -- they wore 5,000 years of civilisation. The Indian contingent’s ceremonial blazer is a tribute to our heritage,” the Paralympic Committee of India said.
The blazers also featured SaptSindhu motifs on the collar, representing the land of seven rivers and the Saraswati, while the Tricolour was prominently displayed on the pocket.
Around 3,000 athletes from 45 nations are competing at the Games under the motto “Imagine One Heart”.
India recorded its best-ever Asian Para Games campaign in Hangzhou in 2023, finishing fifth in the medal standings with 111 medals, including 29 gold, 31 silver and 51 bronze.