Paralympic champions Pramod Bhagat and Bhavina Patel will lead the Indian contingent as flag bearers at the Opening Ceremony of the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games in Nagoya, Japan, on October 18. The announcement was made by the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) on October 7.
Bhagat, one of India's most decorated para badminton players, has won six Asian Para Games medals between 2014 and 2023 — two gold and four bronze. Patel, a leading para table tennis player, has won two Asian Para Games medals between 2018 and 2023 — one silver and one bronze. Between them, the pair holds eight Asian Para Games medals.
Fitting representatives
PCI president Devendra Jhajharia said having Bhagat and Patel lead the contingent was a matter of immense pride and called them fitting representatives whose achievements and resilience would inspire the squad.
Patel said carrying the Tricolour meant representing something far bigger than herself, and hoped India's athletes would compete with confidence and enjoy the moment.
Send-off today
The PCI will formally send off the Indian contingent at a ceremony in New Delhi on October 8, with Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya attending as chief guest and Minister of State Raksha Nikhil Khadse as guest of honour.
This will be the fifth edition of the Asian Para Games, running from October 18 to October 24. India finished fourth in the recent Asian Games at Aichi-Nagoya with 85 medals, including 21 gold.
Sources: ANI — "Bhagat, Bhavina named India's flag bearers for Asian Para Games"; The Statesman (IANS) — "Pramod Bhagat, Bhavina Patel named India's flag bearers for Asian Para Games"; Sportstar — "Asian Para Games 2026: Pramod Bhagat, Bhavina Patel named India's flagbearers for opening ceremony"
Bhagat, one of India's most decorated para badminton players, has won six Asian Para Games medals between 2014 and 2023 — two gold and four bronze. Patel, a leading para table tennis player, has won two Asian Para Games medals between 2018 and 2023 — one silver and one bronze. Between them, the pair holds eight Asian Para Games medals.
Fitting representatives
PCI president Devendra Jhajharia said having Bhagat and Patel lead the contingent was a matter of immense pride and called them fitting representatives whose achievements and resilience would inspire the squad.
Patel said carrying the Tricolour meant representing something far bigger than herself, and hoped India's athletes would compete with confidence and enjoy the moment.
Send-off today
The PCI will formally send off the Indian contingent at a ceremony in New Delhi on October 8, with Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya attending as chief guest and Minister of State Raksha Nikhil Khadse as guest of honour.
This will be the fifth edition of the Asian Para Games, running from October 18 to October 24. India finished fourth in the recent Asian Games at Aichi-Nagoya with 85 medals, including 21 gold.
Sources: ANI — "Bhagat, Bhavina named India's flag bearers for Asian Para Games"; The Statesman (IANS) — "Pramod Bhagat, Bhavina Patel named India's flag bearers for Asian Para Games"; Sportstar — "Asian Para Games 2026: Pramod Bhagat, Bhavina Patel named India's flagbearers for opening ceremony"
