Haney, Sandeep set world records as India pass 100 Para Games medals

India's medal count at the 2026 Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, went past 100 on Friday, 23 October 2026, on a day when two Indian para athletes set world records. Sandeep won the men's 400m T64 final in 52.28 seconds, a world record, and Haney won the men's javelin F37/38 with a world-record throw of 60.49 metres on his last attempt. By one count later in the day, India had 102 medals: 26 gold, 33 silver and 43 bronze.

Crossing 100 medals at a second Asian Para Games in a row shows that Indian para sport has moved past the stage of a few stand-out names. A world record in a track event and another in a field event on the same day point to depth across disciplines, not just in one sport.

The classification codes can be confusing for new fans, so here is what they mean. In para athletics, "T" stands for track events and "F" for field events. The number groups athletes with similar types of impairment so that they compete fairly. The 40s and 60s classes cover athletes with limb differences, including those who run with prostheses. Reports of Sandeep's race differ on his own class label, but all describe the event as the 400m T64 final. The 30s classes cover athletes with coordination impairments such as cerebral palsy, which is the group Haney's F37/38 javelin event belongs to.

The javelin result also shows how close margins can be at this level. Haney's record came on his last throw, after he had already medalled in the discus earlier in the week. Competing in two throwing events at one Games is demanding, and doing it well is a sign of a strong training base.

For young athletes with disabilities, these results show that there is now a visible and funded route into elite sport. Schemes such as TOPS pay for coaching, equipment and competition abroad for athletes who reach a high level. The first step for a young person interested in para sport is to get a formal classification and join a district or state para sports association, which can guide them towards national events and coaching camps.

Short-term: India now has a realistic chance of overtaking its record of 111 medals from the Hangzhou edition in the remaining events. The world records also raise the profile of both athletes before the next international season.

Long-term: Results like these strengthen the case for steady funding of para sport, from coaching and prosthetics to classification and competition travel. They also give coaches and sponsors clearer reasons to invest in para athletics talent.

Who is affected: Indian para athletes and their coaches, young people with disabilities who are thinking about sport, state para sports bodies, and the national selectors planning for future Paralympic cycles.

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