Jordan’s Omar Qarada had the honour of winning the first gold medal of the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games, setting the tone for an action-packed opening day marked by world records, surprise victories and familiar champions returning to the top of the podium.
The 45-year-old powerlifter, a two-time Paralympic champion, lifted 176kg to win the men’s up to 49kg category before celebrating with an emotional embrace with his wife, Asma Issa, who is also competing at the Games.
Qarada, who previously won Asian Para Games gold in 2010 and 2023, was delighted to give Jordan the perfect start.
“It makes me so proud seeing the Jordanian flag being the first flag raised at the Asian Para Games in Nagoya,” said Qarada, who successfully lifted 174kg and 176kg before missing 178kg on his final attempt.
Qarada’s golden start was followed by world record performances from China’s two-time Paralympic champion Guo Lingling and Iraq’s Mustafa Radhi.
Opening the evening session, Guo continued her record-breaking form, improving her own world record by one kilogram with a successful lift of 126kg in her final attempt in the women’s up to 45kg category. She had earlier cleared 120kg and 125kg.
Iraq’s Mustafa Radhi followed with another record-breaking performance, upsetting reigning Asian Para Games champion Qi Yongkai to claim the men’s up to 59kg gold and break a decade-old world record held by Egyptian legend Osman Sherif.
The record came after a dramatic turn of events when Radhi successfully appealed a no-lift decision on his second attempt of 212kg, which was subsequently recognised as a world record.
“I’m the Asian Para Games gold medallist. I set an Asian Para Games record then a world record. These three things I will always remember when I retire,” said Radhi, who is aiming to improve the record at the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games.
The Para powerlifting competition also saw familiar champions return to the top of the podium, including Cui Zhe, who opened China’s gold medal account at the Games.
“I feel emotional right now. I have to thank my coach and my team for all the support they have given me. I am using these Games as a test for Los Angeles (2028 Paralympic Games),” said Zhe, who produced three successful lifts to claim another Asian Para Games gold.
China dominated the opening day’s medal standings with 62 medals, including 26 golds, followed by Japan with eight gold medals and Uzbekistan with six.
Agarwal edges Lekhara in Indian shooting showdown
India also enjoyed a strong start, claiming four gold medals on the opening day, including a memorable one-two finish in the women’s 10m air rifle SH1 final.
Mona Agarwal edged compatriot and two-time Paralympic champion Avani Lekhara for gold, finishing with 250 points to set a new Asian Para Games record.
Agarwal surpassed the previous mark of 249.6 set by Lekhara at Hangzhou 2022. Lekhara matched her own previous record but had to settle for silver, finishing just 0.4 points behind her teammate.
Agarwal had earlier set a qualification record of 629.1, completing an impressive day at the shooting range.
In the men’s 10m air rifle standing SH1, South Korea’s seasoned star Park Jin-ho narrowly missed gold, finishing with 248.5 points behind Kazakhstan’s Yerkin Gabbassov, who scored 249.1. Park’s compatriot Lee Jang-ho claimed bronze.
However, South Korea had reason to celebrate as Seo Huntae claimed gold in the R4 – 10m air rifle standing SH2 event, setting a new Asian record of 254.6 points.
Nishad takes a leap into unfamiliar territory
India’s high jump specialist and two-time Paralympic silver medallist Nishad Kumar produced one of the day’s standout performances, winning the men’s long jump T47 gold despite making his international debut in the event.
The New Delhi 2025 world champion showed little difficulty adapting to a new discipline, opening with 6.95m before improving to 7.09m. He then produced his winning leap of 7.11m in the third round.
Uzbekistan’s Omadbek Khasanov claimed silver with 6.99m, while Sri Lanka’s Mohammadu Safran took bronze with 6.55m.
India also celebrated a one-two finish in the men’s javelin F46 event, with Rinku producing a throw of 65.11m to edge compatriot Ajeet Singh by just 0.09m.
Gawilan reigns again in the pool
Philippines’ Para swimming veteran Ernie Gawilan showed that he remains a formidable force in the pool, claiming his third consecutive Asian Para Games title in the men’s 400m freestyle S7.
The 35-year-old clocked 4:56.72 to finish ahead of China’s Zhang Yilong, who took silver in 5:01.36, while Singapore’s Toh Wei Soong completed the podium in 5:24.23, earning his nation’s first medal of the Games.
It was Gawilan’s fifth Asian Para Games gold medal, adding another milestone to his impressive career.
China, meanwhile, continued their dominance in the pool at the Nagoya City General Gymnasium (Rainbow Pool), with four-time Paralympic champion Guo Jincheng among the standout performers.
The Chinese star lived up to expectations in the men’s 50m freestyle, taking gold in 30.66 seconds.
Malaysia celebrates cycling record
Malaysia also had reason to celebrate as Zuhairie Ahmad Tarmizi claimed gold in the men’s C5 1,000m time trial at the Izu Velodrome.
Zuhairie clocked 1:05.361 in the final, having earlier broken the Asian Para Games record in qualifying with a time of 1:04.882.
Thailand’s Jaturong Niwanti took silver in 1:07.206, while Indonesia’s Sufyan Saori claimed bronze in 1:08.166.
The victory handed Malaysia their first gold medal of the Games.
Ulambayar leads taekwondo gold rush
On the taekwondo mat, Paris 2024 Paralympic champion Surenjav Ulambayar underlined her dominance with a 2-0 victory over Uzbekistan’s Umida Mamaradjabova in the women’s K44 -52kg final, securing Mongolia’s first gold medal at the 5th Asian Para Games.
Ulambayar’s impressive speed and defence proved decisive as she added another major title to her collection.
Her performance was matched by Ailar Jami, who claimed her first Asian Para Games gold after upsetting defending champion Khwansuda Phuangkitcha of Thailand with a 2-0 victory.
In the men’s competition, Xiang-wen Xiao delivered Chinese Taipei’s first gold medal of the Games, defeating Uzbekistan’s Fayyozbek Valijonov 2-0 in the final.
In Para judo, hosts Japan and China dominated the action, but it was Aibike Ulanbek Kyzy who grabbed the spotlight for Kyrgyzstan, claiming gold in the women’s J2 -52kg category.
Ulanbek Kyzy defeated India’s Kokila by ippon in the final to put Kyrgyzstan on the medals table at the 5th Asian Para Games.
