Asian Para Games 2026: India’s para-badminton stars Nitesh Kumar and Naveen Sivakumar won gold medals in their respective men’s singles categories at the Asian Para Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, on October 23, 2026. Nitesh defeated fellow Indian and Paralympic champion Pramod Bhagat in the men’s singles SL3 final, while Naveen secured the men’s singles SL4 title by defeating Indonesia’s Fredy Setiawan.
Nitesh won his final in straight games, 21–18 and 21–16. Naveen defeated Setiawan 21–9 and 21–17 to secure his gold medal. Their victories highlighted India’s performance in para-badminton at the continental sporting event.
The results are particularly significant for competitive-exam aspirants following India’s achievements in international para-sports.
Nitesh Kumar and Naveen Sivakumar Win Gold: Key Highlights
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Sporting event | Asian Para Games 2026 |
| Host region | Aichi-Nagoya, Japan |
| Date of achievement | October 23, 2026 |
| Nitesh Kumar’s event | Men’s Singles SL3 |
| Naveen Sivakumar’s event | Men’s Singles SL4 |
| Nitesh’s opponent | Pramod Bhagat, India |
| Nitesh’s final score | 21–18, 21–16 |
| Naveen’s opponent | Fredy Setiawan, Indonesia |
| Naveen’s final score | 21–9, 21–17 |
| Medal won by both athletes | Gold |
1. Nitesh Kumar Wins Gold in Men’s Singles SL3
- Indian para-badminton player Nitesh Kumar captured gold in the men’s singles SL3 category after defeating compatriot Pramod Bhagat in the final.
- Nitesh won the match 21–18, 21–16, completing the contest in straight games.
- The final brought together two accomplished Indian para-badminton players. Nitesh is the reigning Paralympic champion in his category, while Pramod Bhagat is a former Paralympic gold medallist.
- The victory added another major achievement to Nitesh’s international career and strengthened India’s showing in para-badminton at the Asian Para Games.
- Pramod Bhagat secured the silver medal after finishing runner-up.
Nitesh Kumar vs Pramod Bhagat: Final Score
| Player | Result |
|---|---|
| Nitesh Kumar | Gold |
| Pramod Bhagat | Silver |
| Final score | 21–18, 21–16 |
The all-Indian final also demonstrated the depth of India’s para-badminton talent at the international level.
2. Naveen Sivakumar Wins Men’s Singles SL4 Gold
- Naveen Sivakumar secured India’s second gold medal in the men’s singles para-badminton events by defeating Indonesia’s Fredy Setiawan in the SL4 final.
- Naveen won the match 21–9, 21–17, delivering a strong performance in the final.
- The victory was an important milestone for Naveen, who was making his Asian Para Games debut in 2026.
- Before the Games, he had already demonstrated his ability on the international circuit, including winning gold at the Uganda Para Badminton International in 2022 and securing silver at the 2026 BWF Para Badminton World Championships in Bahrain.
- His Asian Para Games gold added another significant result to his growing international record.
Naveen Sivakumar vs Fredy Setiawan: Final Score
| Player | Result |
|---|---|
| Naveen Sivakumar | Gold |
| Fredy Setiawan | Silver |
| Final score | 21–9, 21–17 |
Naveen’s victory highlighted India’s strength in the SL4 category and marked a successful continental debut.
Note: SL3 and SL4 are classifications for athletes with lower-limb impairments who compete in standing badminton. SL3: This class is for players with more significant lower-limb impairment affecting movement around the court.
SL4: This class is for players with lower-limb impairment who generally have less activity limitation than athletes in SL3.
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