Bhagat, Bhavina to lead India at Asian Para Games as shooters protest selection
Representative image: anncapictures / Pixabay
Pramod Bhagat and Bhavina Patel will carry India's flag at the Asian Para Games on 18 October 2026, as two omitted para shooters protest the selection.
What Happened
Para badminton player Pramod Bhagat and para table tennis player Bhavina Patel will carry India's flag at the opening ceremony of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games in Japan on Sunday, 18 October 2026, the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) announced on Wednesday, 7 October. The Games run from 18 to 24 October. The next day, Thursday, 8 October, the team's send-off in New Delhi was overshadowed by a protest from para shooters Sandeep Kumar and Akash, who were left out of the squad and accused the PCI of an unfair selection process. The PCI rejected the charge and said the team was picked on merit. The first batch of Indian athletes is due to leave for Japan on 14 October.
Key Facts
- Pramod Bhagat and Bhavina Patel will lead the Indian contingent at the opening ceremony on 18 October 2026.
- Bhagat has won six Asian Para Games medals between 2014 and 2023, two gold and four bronze; Patel has won two, a silver and a bronze, between 2018 and 2023.
- PCI president Devendra Jhajharia said the two had contributed immensely to the growth of Indian para sport.
- India won 111 medals at the previous Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, its best haul so far.
- SH1 para shooters Sandeep Kumar and Akash protested at the 8 October send-off, saying their rankings were better than those of some selected shooters, and sought an independent probe.
- The PCI said the team was chosen transparently, on merit and in line with the Sports Ministry's criteria; Jhajharia called the selection "100 per cent fair".
- Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya attended the send-off ceremony.
Why It Matters
The Asian Para Games are the biggest continental stage for athletes with disabilities, and India's record there has climbed fast. The 111 medals from Hangzhou turned para sport into one of the country's most reliable sources of international success, and the Aichi-Nagoya Games are the first big test of whether that level can be held or improved.
Choosing Bhagat and Patel as flag bearers sends a clear message to young athletes. Both are long-serving internationals who have won medals at more than one edition of these Games. For a teenager who has just taken up para badminton or para table tennis, they show that a long career in para sport is possible in India, with recognition to match.
The protest is the other side of the story, and young athletes will be watching it closely too. Selection disputes are common in shooting, where rankings, trial scores and international results can point in different directions. The two shooters argued that their continental rankings should have earned them places. The PCI said it followed the Sports Ministry's selection rules. Neither side's specific claims about rankings and procedure have been tested by an independent body in the reports available.
What the episode shows is how much rides on clear, published selection criteria. Athletes plan years of training, travel and spending around a handful of qualifying events. When they cannot see how a decision was made, trust in the system suffers, even if the decision itself was correct.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Games | Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games, Japan |
| Dates | 18 to 24 October 2026 |
| Flag bearers | Pramod Bhagat and Bhavina Patel |
| India's last tally | 111 medals, Hangzhou |
| First departure | 14 October 2026 |
Impact
Short-term: The team leaves for Japan next week with two experienced leaders at its head, but with an unresolved row in shooting that the PCI will want to keep away from the competition.
Long-term: A strong result in Japan would build the case for more funding and coaching for para sport, while the selection row may add pressure for selection rules that athletes can check for themselves.
Who is affected: Indian para athletes and coaches, young people with disabilities who are taking up sport, the PCI and sports federations, and fans following India's medal hopes.
Key Takeaway
India heads to the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games with two veteran medallists as flag bearers and a 111-medal record to defend, but a selection protest by two shooters has raised questions the PCI says are unfounded.
Questions and Answers
Who are India's flag bearers at the 2026 Asian Para Games?
Para badminton player Pramod Bhagat and para table tennis player Bhavina Patel, named by the Paralympic Committee of India on 7 October 2026, will carry the flag at the opening ceremony on 18 October.
When and where are the Games?
The Asian Para Games are being held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from 18 to 24 October 2026. The first batch of Indian athletes is scheduled to leave on 14 October.
Why did two para shooters protest?
SH1 shooters Sandeep Kumar and Akash, who were not selected, said at the team's 8 October send-off that their rankings were stronger than those of some selected shooters and asked for an independent probe. The PCI said the selection was transparent and followed Sports Ministry criteria.
How did India do at the last Asian Para Games?
India won 111 medals at the previous edition in Hangzhou, its highest total at the event.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
Sourced and fact-checked by the Peepals Global Editorial Team
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