India has unveiled a 166‑strong squad for the 2026 Asian Para Games in Aichi‑Nagoya, Japan, as the Sports Ministry confirmed the roster on Thursday. The announcement comes after a 275‑member contingent was initially approved, but the final list focuses on elite talent and emerging stars.
Sheetal Devi, the double gold medallist from the 2022 Games, will headline the archery team alongside 18‑year‑old Payal Nag, while Tokyo Paralympic gold medallist Pramod Bhagat and silver medallist Suhas Yathiraj light up the badminton contingent.
Para‑athletics takes the lion’s share with 62 athletes, followed by 28 in badminton, 16 in swimming, 13 in shooting, and 11 each in archery and table tennis. The remaining sports—blind football, para‑powerlifting, para‑judo, and para‑cycling—host 10, 8, 7 and 1 athletes respectively.
The squad travels with 94 officials and 15 support staff, a sign that India is treating the Games with the same seriousness it gives the Olympics. The large support crew will help manage logistics, medical needs and morale on the road.
Training camps are already underway in Delhi and Chandigarh, with athletes set to fine‑tune their skills before heading to Japan in October. The Games will be a litmus test for India's para‑sports infrastructure and a stepping stone toward the 2028 Paralympics.
Next up, the team will face a series of international meets in Japan to sharpen their competitive edge, while the Sports Ministry keeps a close eye on performance metrics and medal prospects.