A strong field of 113 athletes from 18 nations will gather at the Aichi Prefectural General Shooting Gallery from 19 to 23 October as Shooting Para Sport takes centre stage at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games.
China, Korea and India will look to build on their previous success, having secured four, three and two gold medals respectively at Hangzhou 2022. Japan, meanwhile, will look to make the most of competing on home soil, while Iran will also seek to challenge the leading contenders in a competition where accuracy, concentration and composure will be crucial.
However, Korea will look to continue their impressive show – where they topped the Paris 2024 medals with three golds, and followed with up with 10 golds at the recent World Shooting Para Sport Championships at home.
China’s Paralympic champions lead the challenge
China will be among the nations to watch, led by their two Paralympic stars with impressive records on the international stage. China’s pistol legend Yang Chao has enjoyed success across multiple Paralympic Games, winning gold and silver at Rio 2016, another gold at Tokyo 2020 and two gold medals and a bronze at Paris 2024. He also claimed gold at Hangzhou 2022 and added a world title at the 2026 World Shooting Para Sport Championships in Changwon.
Zhang Cuiping, two-time Paralympic gold medallist in R8 – women’s 50m rifle 3 positions SH1, brings similarly extensive experience, having won multiple Paralympic medals across three editions of the Games. Her achievements include two gold medals and a bronze at London 2012, two gold medals and a silver at Rio 2016, and gold and silver at Tokyo 2020. At Hangzhou 2022, she added another gold and a bronze to her record.
India look to Lekhara and Narwal
India will look to Avani Lekhara and Manish Narwal to lead their challenge in Aichi and Nagoya, with both athletes bringing Paralympic and Asian Para Games experience to the competition.
Lekhara has established herself among the leading names in shooting Para sport, winning gold and bronze at Tokyo 2020 before retaining her R1- women’s 10m air rifle title at Paris 2024. She also claimed gold at Hangzhou 2022 and continued her success at the 2026 World Para Shooting Championships in Changwon, where she secured team gold and individual bronze.
Narwal, meanwhile, won P4 mixed 50m pistol SH1 gold at Tokyo 2020 and followed it with P1-men’s 10m air pistol silver at Paris 2024. He also earned bronze at Hangzhou 2022 and added another bronze at the 2026 World Para Shooting Championships in Changwon. His international experience will be valuable as India looks to add to its medal tally at Aichi-Nagoya 2026.
Korea target further success
Korea will arrive at Aichi-Nagoya 2026 with momentum from the 2026 World Shooting Para Sport Championships in Changwon, where Jo Jeongdo, Park Jinho and Lee Yunri all three of them claimed gold medals.
Jo won gold in the P1- men’s 10m air pistol SH1 at Paris 2024 before adding to his tally with another gold in Changwon. His performance at the Worlds was particularly significant, as he scored 244.4 points to break the world record in the event underlining his credentials ahead of the Asian Para Games.
Like Jeongdu, Park will also be aiming to secure his first Asian Para Games title. Park, a two-time Paralympic champion in the R1 – men’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 and R7 – men’s 50m rifle 3 positions SH1, put up an impressive show at home in Changwon 2026 when he scored a world record 354.7 points to claim the R7 title in front of the home crowd.
Lee also brings considerable experience to the competition. She won gold at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games and silver at Paris 2024 before securing gold in the R6 50m rifle prone SH1 at the 2026 World Para Shooting Championships. Her combination of Paralympic experience and recent success will add strength to the Republic of Korea’s challenge in Aichi-Nagoya.
Iran Look to Javanmardi’s Championship Experience
Iran will look to Sareh Javanmardi, one of the sport’s most decorated athletes, to lead its challenge in Aichi-Nagoya. Javanmardi has enjoyed sustained success on the Paralympic stage, winning two gold medals at Rio 2016 before adding gold at Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024. She also claimed silver at Hangzhou 2022.
Her recent form further strengthens Iran’s prospects. At the 2026 World Para Shooting Championships in Changwon, Javanmardi won gold and bronze and was part of a team that set a world record with 1,707 points. Her experience across the Paralympic, Asian Para Games and world championship gives Iran a notable competitor as the team prepares for Aichi-Nagoya.
She is however expected to face a strong challenge from her compatriot and newest shooter Faezeh Ahmadi who claimed her first world title in the P2 at Changwon 2026.
Japan Aim to Make Home Advantage Count
As hosts of Aichi-Nagoya 2026, Japan will look to make the most of competing on home soil and challenge the leading nations in Shooting Para Sport. Mika Mizuta is among the athletes to highlight, having secured bronze in the R5 10m air rifle prone SH2 at both Hangzhou 2022 and the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
Her consecutive bronze-medal finishes at these major competitions provide a foundation for Japan’s campaign, as the host nation seeks to strengthen its presence in the sport and compete with the established medal-winning nations.
The battle for medals at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games Shooting Para Sport competition will depend on precision, consistency and composure under pressure, with every shot carrying the potential to shape the final standings. The R1 – men’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 and R2 – women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 will be the first finals at the shooting Para sport competition of Aichi-Nagoya 2026 on October 19.
