Chennai: The contingent that walked into Chennai airport on Sunday had 114 medals in its bags, and a smaller team sheet than the last time it did this.
India finished fourth at the Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya with 30 gold, 35 silver and 49 bronze — its highest ever haul, past the 108 won at Hangzhou. The detail that makes the haul sharper still: only 168 Indian para athletes competed this time, against 309 in the previous edition.
Para shooter Mona Agarwal was the face of it. She won two golds, set five records including a world record, and was named India's flag bearer for the closing ceremony. Her 357.5 in the women's 50m rifle 3 positions SH1 was the world mark. In the 10m air rifle SH1 she set Asian Para Games records in qualification and the final, with 629.1 and 250.0.
"I was expecting a medal, but when five records were created together and I became the flag bearer, it is a very big achievement for me," she said on arrival, adding that she had left for Japan hoping to return with two medals.
Para archer Sheetal Devi, 19, came back with two golds and a silver, defending her individual compound title against Singapore's Nur Syahidah Alim — a repeat of the Hangzhou final. "I focus on my game. I do not look at social media much," she said.
In para-badminton, Nitesh Kumar beat compatriot Pramod Bhagat in the men's singles SL3 final, and debutant Naveen Sivakumar took SL4 gold. Thulasimathi Murugesan and Manasi Joshi won the women's doubles SL3-SU5 title. Nitesh, the Paris Paralympic champion, said his target now is Los Angeles 2028: "We have to get through qualifications, and the target will remain the same — to defend my title."
Athletics carried the biggest load. Sumit Antil led an all-Indian sweep in the men's javelin F42-44/61-64 with 72.46m. Sandeep set a world record in the men's 400m T64 and took bronze in the 100m T44. Haney set a world record in the javelin F37/38. India's best-ever archery campaign produced three golds and three silvers, with Harvinder Singh and Vijay Sundi winning the men's recurve doubles.
Indian Olympic Association president PT Usha congratulated the athletes on X on Sunday, crediting coaches and support staff.
The medal table puts the scale in perspective. China topped it with 435 medals, including 207 gold. Japan, the host, was second with 186, and Uzbekistan third with 145. India's 114 came from a contingent half the size of the one that went to Hangzhou.