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Indian para athletes launched their campaign wearing heritage apparel
India made a striking entry at the 2026 Asian Para Games opening ceremony in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, on Sunday, October 18. Wearing deep blue blazers adorned with golden motifs of the Indus Valley Civilisation, the 281-member contingent captured global attention. Para-badminton champion Pramod Bhagat, who traces his roots to Odisha, led the parade alongside para-sprinter Simran Sharma. This fifth edition of the continental tournament runs until October 24, bringing together nearly 3,000 competitors from 45 nations under the motto 'Imagine One Heart'.
Heritage apparel meets sporting excellence
Special ceremonial kits showcased distinctive elements of ancient history. Golden prints of the famous Priest-King sculpture and Dancing Girl figurine decorated the blazers, alongside ancient seal scripts. An Indian Tricolour sat close to the heart on the pocket, while the collar paid homage to SaptSindhu, the land of seven rivers. Out of the total national delegation, 168 are active athletes. This diverse squad comprises 112 men and 56 women who are prepared to compete across 11 different disciplines.
Strategic rest prompts flag bearer change
Simran stepped into the prominent flag bearer role at the last minute, replacing para-table tennis player Bhavina Patel. Team management made this tactical choice to protect Bhavina’s physical condition before her crucial quarter-final match scheduled for Monday, October 19.
Also read: Prime Minister Takaichi launches Asian Para Games 2026 featuring eighteen sports events
Satyanarayana, the head coach of para-athletics, explained that travelling to and from the opening venue takes nearly six hours. He noted that such a demanding transit schedule would have left the wheelchair athlete with very little recovery time before her game.
"Bhavina has her quarter-final match tomorrow, October 19, and it is important that she gets adequate rest and recovery," Satyanarayana stated. "Keeping her well-being and competition schedule in mind, we felt it was important to make this change. Our priority is to ensure that our athletes get the rest they need and are fully prepared to give their best when they compete."
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