The sporting action in Japan is not done yet. Indian para-athletes are set for a packed schedule on Saturday, 17 October, as the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games 2026 continues into its second day of competition. With the official opening ceremony still a day away on 18 October, early events in para badminton, boccia, para table tennis and blind football are already underway, giving the 168-strong Indian contingent early opportunities to build momentum ahead of the medal events later in the week.
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The fifth edition of the Asian Para Games is being hosted across venues in Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya, Japan, running through to 24 October. India is fielding one of its larger contingents in recent editions, with athletes competing across 11 disciplines. Flag-bearers Pramod Bhagat of para badminton and Bhavina Patel of para table tennis will lead the team into the opening ceremony, carrying expectations shaped by India’s strong showing at the previous Games in Hangzhou, where the country secured a record medal haul.
A look at Para badminton
Para badminton dominates India’s programme on 17 October. Group-stage matches begin from 5:30 am IST onwards, featuring a host of experienced campaigners. Tokyo Paralympic gold medallist Pramod Bhagat is scheduled in both singles and mixed doubles. He is set to play with Manisha Ramdass in mixed doubles SL3-SU5 against an Indonesian pair. In addition to this, he also features in men’s singles SL3 and doubles events.
Manasi Joshi is another prominent name and is set to face Japan’s Shino Kawai in women’s singles SL3. She is also scheduled to feature in mixed and women’s doubles. Krishna Nagar, Nitesh Kumar, Suhas Lalinakere Yathiraj, Thulasimathi Murugesan, Sukant Kadam and several others are also in action across singles and doubles categories spanning multiple classification groups, including WH1-WH2, SL3, SL4, SU5 and SH6.
The depth of India’s badminton squad reflects the sport’s growing strength on the continental stage. Many matches are scheduled throughout the day, testing the athletes’ ability to recover and perform consistently in a congested timetable. Success in the group stages will be crucial for progression into the knockout rounds, where medal opportunities will open up in the coming days. In boccia, India has just two representatives, both making their mark in the individual BC3 category.
Sachin Chamaria of Assam faces Khalifa Ahmad of the UAE in the men’s individual BC3 Pool A, while Anjali Devi of Himachal Pradesh takes on Japan’s Yuika Sakai in the women’s event. Boccia, a precision sport involving throwing or rolling balls as close as possible to a target jack, requires intense focus and tactical awareness. These early pool matches offer both athletes valuable competitive experience on the Asian stage.
A look at Para tennis
Para table tennis also presents a busy programme as the matches begin from around 6:00 AM IST. Bhavina Patel, the Tokyo Paralympic silver medallist and joint flag-bearer, competes in women’s singles Class 4-5 against Faten Eleimat of Jordan. Other Indian paddlers in action include Savita Ajjanakatti (women’s Class 8), Sonalben Patel of women’s Class 3, with multiple matches scheduled. Ekta Bhyan (women’s Class 1), Dattaprasad Chougule (men’s Class 9), Shubham Wadhwa (men’s Class 3), Baby Sahana Ravi (women’s Class 9), Prachi Pandey (women’s Class 6), Jehan Madan and Sandeep Dangi (men’s Class 1). The schedule features a mix of morning and afternoon sessions, allowing athletes to navigate group-stage fixtures against strong opponents from China, Japan, South Korea and elsewhere.
A look at blind football
In blind football (football 5-a-side), India’s men’s team faces hosts Japan in a preliminary-round match. The Indian side had opened its campaign the previous day against South Korea. Playing against the home nation adds extra intensity, with the Japanese team expected to draw strong local support. Blind football demands exceptional communication, spatial awareness and teamwork, as players rely on sound and a guide to navigate the pitch. A positive result would importantly boost India’s group-stage standing.
The early start to competition before the formal opening ceremony is designed to accommodate the full programme of events across 18 sports. Medal events are expected to intensify from 19 October onwards, particularly in athletics, shooting, powerlifting and other disciplines where India has traditionally performed well. Athletes such as Sumit Antil, Avani Lekhara and Sheetal Devi are among those expected to feature prominently later in the Games, but the foundation laid by the badminton, table tennis, boccia and football contingents on these opening days remains important for overall team morale and ranking.
Venues including the Ichinomiya City Municipal Gymnasium for badminton and table tennis, and Tsuruma Park for blind football, are hosting the early action. As the Asian Para Games gather pace, attention will remain fixed on how India’s athletes convert early opportunities into progression. With a broad contingent and several proven performers already in the mix, the campaign on 17 October offers a clear snapshot of the nation’s depth and ambition on the continental para sports stage.
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