India enjoyed a memorable day in para badminton at the Asian Para Games 2026 in Nagoya, Japan, as Nitesh Kumar and Naveen Sivakumar secured gold medals in their respective men’s singles categories.
Nitesh triumphed in the SL3 final, while Naveen emerged victorious in the SL4 event.
Indian players also added two silver medals through Pramod Bhagat, Thulasimathi Murugesan and Nithya Sre Sumathy Sivan.
The results highlighted India’s strength in para badminton and added to the country’s medal campaign at the continental competition.
Nitesh Kumar Beats Pramod Bhagat in All-Indian Final
Nitesh delivered a composed performance to defeat fellow Indian and former champion Pramod Bhagat 21-18, 21-16 in the men’s singles SL3 final.
The contest brought together two Paralympic gold medallists, making the encounter one of the tournament’s notable matches.
Nitesh controlled the key moments to secure the title in straight games.
Bhagat, who had won gold at the 2018 and 2022 editions, finished with silver after falling short of a third consecutive Asian Para Games crown.
Naveen Sivakumar Claims Gold on Games Debut
Naveen Sivakumar marked his Asian Para Games debut with an impressive victory over Indonesia’s Fredy Setiawan in the men’s singles SL4 final.
He won 21-9, 21-17 in 36 minutes to secure the gold medal.
The victory followed several encouraging international performances, including silver at the 2026 BWF Para Badminton World Championships.
Naveen’s calm approach and preparation helped him handle the pressure of a major final and deliver a significant result for India.
Thulasimathi and Nithya Add Silver Medals for India
Thulasimathi Murugesan earned silver in the women’s singles SU5 final after losing 18-21, 11-21 to China’s Yang Qiuxia.
Nithya Sre Sumathy Sivan also finished runner-up in the women’s singles SH6 event, going down 12-21, 13-21 to China’s Li Fengmei.
Thulasimathi remained in contention for additional medals in mixed and women’s doubles, giving India further opportunities to strengthen its para badminton tally.
The performances underlined the depth of the Indian contingent at the Games.