India’s contingent caught the eye at the opening ceremony of the Asian Para Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, on Sunday, October 18, with a ceremonial kit inspired by the Indus Valley Civilisation. The deep blue blazers, featuring golden prints of some of the civilisation’s best-known artefacts, brought a touch of India’s ancient heritage to the parade of nations.
The blazers featured motifs inspired by the famous Priest-King sculpture and the Dancing Girl figurine, two iconic artefacts associated with the Indus Valley Civilisation. The design also incorporated prints of ancient seals, drawing on the civilisation’s distinctive symbols and script.
The kit offered a nod to a civilisation that flourished thousands of years ago, with the Indian contingent carrying its cultural legacy onto the sporting stage in Nagoya. The blazers also featured the Indian Tricolour on the pocket, close to the heart, while the collar paid tribute to SaptSindhu, the land of the seven rivers.
The opening ceremony marked the start of the fifth edition of the Asian Para Games, which runs from October 18 to 24. India has fielded a 281-member contingent, including 168 athletes, comprising 112 men and 56 women, competing across 11 disciplines. Around 3,000 athletes from 45 nations are expected to participate in the Games, which carry the motto ‘Imagine One Heart’.
PRAMOD BHAGAT, SIMRAN SHARMA LEAD INDIA
Meanwhile, para-badminton player Pramod Bhagat and para-sprinter Simran Sharma led the Indian contingent as flag bearers at the opening ceremony.
Simran replaced para-table tennis player Bhavina Patel, with the Indian contingent’s management prioritising the latter’s rest and recovery ahead of her quarter-final match on Monday, October 19.
The decision was taken keeping in mind the demands of the journey to and from the opening ceremony venue, which was expected to take nearly six hours. The travel would have left Bhavina, a wheelchair athlete, with limited time to recover before her crucial quarter-final.
Explaining the decision, Satyanarayana, head coach of para-athletics, said the team wanted to ensure Bhavina was adequately rested ahead of her match.
“Bhavina has her quarter-final match tomorrow, October 19, and it is important that she gets adequate rest and recovery ahead of this crucial contest. As a wheelchair athlete, travelling to and from the venue takes nearly six hours, which would be demanding and leave her with limited time to recover,” he said.
“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,” Satyanarayana added.
Bhagat and Simran took on the responsibility of leading the contingent at the ceremony, as India began its campaign at the continental para-sporting event.
– Ends
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