Asian Para Games 2026: Government Invests ₹98.56 Crore to Support 168-Member Indian Contingent

New Delhi, October 16: The Government of India has extended financial and training support worth ₹98.56 crore to the 168-member Indian contingent for the Asian Para Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, as the country's para-athletes prepare to compete across 11 sports disciplines.

The contingent comprises 112 men and 56 women, with the government assisting the Annual Calendar for Training and Competition (ACTC) and the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS). While ₹80.22 crore was allocated under ACTC, a further ₹18.34 crore was invested through TOPS to strengthen preparations for the continental competition.

India's campaign began on Friday, October 16, with para badminton and para table tennis players, along with the men's blind football team, taking to the field of play. Of the total contingent, 47 athletes are supported under TOPS, while 33 are Khelo India Athletes. Meanwhile, 61 athletes will be making their debut at the Games.

As part of the preparations, National Coaching Camps were organised across multiple centres to provide athletes with structured training and access to essential facilities. An international training camp was also facilitated for the para-archery contingent at the Kurobe Archery Center in Japan between September and October.

Domestic training arrangements were made across several Sports Authority of India (SAI) centres. Para-archers trained at the SAI Regional Centre in Sonipat, while camps for para swimmers and para powerlifters were conducted at the SAI Regional Centre in Gandhinagar.

Additional National Coaching Camps for para-athletes were organised at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi, SAI Sonipat and the SAI Regional Centre in Bengaluru during September and October.

Preparations for other disciplines included training for para shooters at the Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range, blind football players in Kochi and blind judo athletes at the Indian Para Judo Academy in Lucknow. Para cyclists trained at the velodrome at SAI's Indira Gandhi Stadium in New Delhi.

India will compete in para athletics, para-archery, para badminton, para table tennis, boccia, blind football, para cycling, blind judo, para powerlifting, para shooting and para swimming.

The opening ceremony is scheduled for October 18, with para badminton player Pramod Bhagat and para table tennis player Bhavina Patel set to be India's flagbearers. Medal events will take place from October 19 to 24.