Para-Badminton Gold became a proud moment for India on 23 October 2026, when Nitesh Kumar and Naveen Sivakumar won gold medals in men’s singles at the Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Nitesh Kumar won the men’s singles SL3 final against fellow Indian player Pramod Bhagat, while Naveen Sivakumar defeated Indonesia’s Fredy Setiawan in the SL4 final. Their victories added two gold medals to India’s medal tally and highlighted the performance of Indian para-badminton players on the international stage.

Nitesh Kumar Wins Gold in the SL3 Category Para-Badminton Gold

Nitesh Kumar won the gold medal in the men’s singles SL3 category after defeating Pramod Bhagat in the final. Kumar won the match in straight games, with scores of 21–18 and 21–16. The match featured two Indian players competing for the top position in the tournament.

Pramod Bhagat is an experienced para-badminton player who had won gold medals at the 2018 and 2022 Asian Para Games. However, Kumar produced a strong performance to secure the gold medal, leaving Bhagat with silver.

The victory was an important achievement for Kumar and Indian para-badminton. It also showed the strength of India’s players in the SL3 category, where athletes compete with lower-limb impairments that affect their movement on the court.

Naveen Sivakumar Wins Gold in the SL4 Category

Naveen Sivakumar secured India’s second men’s singles gold medal by defeating Indonesia’s Fredy Setiawan in the SL4 final. Sivakumar won the match 21–9, 21–17, completing the contest in straight games.

His performance gave India another gold medal in para-badminton at the 2026 Asian Para Games. Winning against an international opponent in a major multi-sport event was an important achievement for Sivakumar.

The SL4 category is designed for standing players with lower-limb impairments that are generally less severe than those in the SL3 category. Unlike SL3 players, who compete on half of a standard badminton court, SL4 players use a full court.

What Are the Different Para-Badminton Categories?

Para-badminton is a form of badminton for athletes with physical impairments. Players are placed into different sport classes according to their impairments and how these affect their movement and ability to play.

There are six main sport classes in para-badminton: WH1, WH2, SL3, SL4, SU5 and SH6. Each class has specific requirements to make competition fair for athletes with different impairments.

WH1: For wheelchair players with greater limitations in trunk and lower-body movement.
WH2: For wheelchair players with less impairment than those in WH1.
SL3: For standing players with lower-limb impairments that affect movement. Players compete on half of a standard badminton court.
SL4: For standing players with lower-limb impairments that are generally less severe than those in SL3. They compete on a full court.
SU5: For players with upper-limb impairments.
SH6: For players of short stature.

These classifications help athletes compete against others in an appropriate category. SL3 and SL4 are standing classes, while WH1 and WH2 are wheelchair classes. SU5 and SH6 are separate categories and are not subdivisions of the SL classes.

About the Asian Para Games

The Asian Para Games is a major multi-sport event for athletes with disabilities from countries and regions across Asia. It provides a platform for para-athletes to compete in different sports and represent their nations at the continental level.

The event is organised by the Asian Paralympic Committee and is held in the same host city as the Asian Games. The 2026 edition is being held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.

Para-badminton became a Paralympic sport at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, which took place in 2021 after being postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Its inclusion in the Paralympic programme helped bring greater international attention to the sport and its athletes.

India Wins Silver Medals in Women’s Para-Badminton

India also won two silver medals in women’s singles para-badminton on 23 October 2026. Thulasimathi Murugesan earned silver in the SU5 category, while Nithya Sre Sumathy Sivan won silver in the SH6 category.

These results added to India’s medal count and showed the country’s performance across different para-badminton classifications. The gold and silver medals won by Indian players reflected their efforts and the growing presence of India in international para-sports.

India’s Medal Tally on 23 October 2026

According to the reported medal tally, India had won 98 medals at the Asian Para Games as of 23 October 2026. The total included 24 gold, 32 silver and 42 bronze medals. India was placed fourth in the overall medal standings at that point.

The medal count showed India’s performance across several sporting events. The victories by Nitesh Kumar and Naveen Sivakumar contributed two more gold medals to the country’s total on the reported date.

India’s para-athletes continue to compete across different sports and classifications, bringing attention to the achievements of athletes with disabilities. Their performances also help increase awareness of para-sports and encourage wider participation.

Important Facts About Para-Badminton

Badminton is played in singles and doubles formats using a racket and a shuttlecock. The Badminton World Federation governs international badminton, including para-badminton competitions.

The Paralympic Games are an international multi-sport event for athletes with disabilities. The Asian Paralympic Committee organises the Asian Para Games, which bring together para-athletes from across Asia.

The 2026 Asian Para Games gold medal winners in men’s singles para-badminton were Nitesh Kumar in SL3 and Naveen Sivakumar in SL4. Kumar defeated Pramod Bhagat 21–18, 21–16, while Sivakumar defeated Fredy Setiawan 21-9, 21-17.