The stars of India's surge: 5 standout performers of record Asian Para Games campaign

In this image received on Oct. 24, 2026, Double gold medallist Indian para-shooter Mona Agarwal carries the tricolour as India's flag bearer during the closing ceremony of the 5th Asian Para Games at the Paloma Mizuho Stadium, in Nagoya, Japan. (PCI via PTI Photo)

India returned from the Asian Para Games in Nagoya with its best-ever medal haul of 114 medals, powered by world records, golden doubles and medal-winning debuts. TOI picks out the ones who stole the show.

..MONA AGARWAL: A golden double and a world recordMona Agarwal won the women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 gold before setting a world record in the 50m rifle three positions SH1. Her score of 357.5 secured a second title and made her the first Indian para-shooter to medal in the event. The Jaipur-based Paris Paralympics bronze medallist trained for the 50m event with a rented rifle, travelling long distances to train.

PRANAV SOORMA: Two titles, two recordsPranav Soorma claimed the men’s discus throw F51/52/53 gold with an Asian-record effort of 11.66m, then added the club throw F51 title with a Games-record 32.87m.

Paralysed after a spinal cord injury at 16, Soorma rebuilt his life through education and sport. His Nagoya double followed club throw gold at the previous Asian Para Games and silver at the Paris Paralympics.NISHAD KUMAR: Two disciplines, two gold medalsNishad Kumar ventured beyond his high jump speciality to win the men’s T47 long jump with an effort of 7.11m, then claimed high jump gold with a Games-record clearance of 2.04m.

The double Paralympic silver medallist took on the additional discipline despite a troublesome knee, showcasing his versatility.SIMRAN SHARMA: Silver to goldSimran Sharma won the women’s 200m and 100m T12 titles, improving on her two silvers at the previous Games. The visually impaired sprinter from Ghaziabad followed her 200m triumph with a Games-record 12.02s in the 100m, finishing ahead of Iran’s Hajar Safarzadeh.

SHEETAL DEVI: Golden comebackSheetal beat Singapore’s Nur Syahidah Alim in the women’s individual compound final. She also won women’s compound doubles silver with Payal Nag and mixed-team gold.FINAL BOWMona Agarwal with the Indian flag at the closing ceremony on Saturday.