India's para-badminton contingent added another gold to the country's growing medal haul at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games, with Thulasimathi Murugesan and Manasi Joshi winning the women's doubles SL3-SU5 title. The Indian combination defeated China's reigning world champions Qiuxia Yang and Zuxian Xiao 21-16, 21-13 in the final to secure the top spot on the podium.

The victory carried added significance for the Indian pair, who had lost to the same Chinese opponents in the final of the 2025 Asian Championships. Their triumph in Nagoya also marked an upgrade from the silver medal they had won at the previous Asian Para Games.

Thulasimathi Completes Medal Hat-Trick With Two Silvers

The women's doubles gold was not Thulasimathi's only podium finish at the Games. She also collected silver medals in mixed doubles and women's singles, making it a three-medal campaign for the Indian shuttler.

In mixed doubles SL3-SU5, Thulasimathi partnered Nitesh Kumar, but the Indian duo could not get past Indonesia's Leani Ratri Oktila and Hikmat Ramdani. After losing the opening game 11-21, the Indians fought back to take the second 21-19 before going down 14-21 in the decider.

Thulasimathi's singles campaign ended with another silver against China's Yang. The supplied match score records the result as 21-18, 11-21, although the second-game score should be checked against the official results before publication.

Naveen Sivakumar, Nitesh Kumar Add Men's Singles Golds

India's success extended beyond the women's events. Naveen Sivakumar won the men's singles SL3 gold, while Nitesh Kumar claimed the SL4 title after defeating compatriot Pramod Bhagat 21-18, 21-16 in an all-Indian final.

The contest brought together two Paralympic champions, with Nitesh emerging victorious against Bhagat, who had won gold at the 2018 and 2022 Asian Para Games.

India also added a silver through Nithya Sre Sumathy Sivan in women's singles SH6. She lost 12-21, 13-21 to China's Li Fengmei in the final.

India Fourth In Asian Para Games Medal Standings

India's medal count has reached 106 at Aichi-Nagoya 2026, comprising 28 gold, 34 silver and 44 bronze medals. The country is currently fourth in the standings, according to the supplied tally.

The performance follows India's record-breaking campaign at Hangzhou 2023, where the contingent won 111 medals, including 29 gold, 31 silver and 51 bronze, to finish fifth overall.

With the latest para-badminton results adding to India's collection, the team continues its bid to build on that historic performance.

With the latest para-badminton results adding to India's collection, the team continues its bid to build on that historic performance.