Historic 102‑Medal Haul: India’s Youth Para Athletes Shine
Dubai: The Asian Youth Para Games 2025 in Dubai witnessed a historic performance by India’s youth para-athletes, who returned home with a record haul of 102 medals, including 36 gold, 28 silver, and 38 bronze medals, officially recognised by the Government of India. This achievement marks the country’s best-ever showing at the Games and highlights the depth, diversity, and rising competitiveness of India’s young para-athletes.
Although the Asian Youth Para Games 2025 in Dubai concluded on 14 December 2025, with competitions and the closing ceremony wrapping up on that day, it was on December 19, 2025, when Union Home Minister Amit Shah publicly congratulated the Indian youth para-athletes for their outstanding performance, highlighting a historic haul of 102 medals, including 36 gold, 28 silver, and 38 bronze.
The Indian contingent, comprising 99 athletes from across multiple states, displayed remarkable talent across disciplines, including athletics, swimming, para badminton, para table tennis, archery, powerlifting, and taekwondo. In athletics, the youth showcased versatility and endurance, securing 10 gold, 7 silver, and 11 bronze medals in track and field events. Sprinters, jumpers, and throwers from Karnataka, Delhi, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana were particularly prominent, turning in performances that combined skill with strategic poise under high-stakes competition.
Swimming emerged as another medal-rich discipline, with 8 gold, 5 silver, and 6 bronze medals coming from swimmers representing Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. Their speed, technique, and competitive composure highlighted India’s growing strength in para swimming at the youth level.
Para badminton proved to be a golden source of pride. Indian shuttlers captured 8 gold medals and a total of 17 medals, including victories by Jatin Azad and Shivam Yadav. Azad triumphed in men’s singles SU5, while pairing with Yadav to win doubles gold. The duo’s success exemplified the combination of tactical mastery, stamina, and resilience that has come to define India’s rising para-badminton program.
Para table tennis also contributed to India’s medal tally. Baby Sahana Ravi secured gold in the Class SF‑9 (Under-23) category, while Vishwa Vijay Tambe earned silver in Class SM‑10, demonstrating India’s growing depth in racquet sports. Athletes in table tennis hailed from Kerala, Maharashtra, and Delhi, adding regional diversity to the team’s success.
Powerlifting and taekwondo added further victories. Athletes from Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, and Maharashtra won one silver and four bronze medals combined, demonstrating strength, technique, and fighting spirit. Archery, though partially reflected in the publicly available official results, contributed additional points to India’s overall performance.
The medal-winning athletes represented a wide range of states, including Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal, illustrating the national spread of India’s para-sports ecosystem. While the official tournament website currently provides partial sport-wise medal data totalling 57 medals, the Government of India’s official figure of 102 medals is recognised as authoritative, accounting for performances in para badminton and other disciplines not yet fully reflected online.
Beyond statistics, the Games provided invaluable international exposure. Indian athletes competed against over 1,500 participants from 35 countries, gaining experience in handling competitive pressure, strategic play, and cross-cultural competition. These experiences will serve as critical preparation for future senior-level world championships and Paralympic qualifiers.
The 2025 Asian Youth Para Games in Dubai concluded on December 14, 2025, with the closing ceremony and final competitions taking place on that day. The Games were held from December 7 to 14 , 2025.
This historic haul underscores the effectiveness of India’s structured talent identification and athlete development programs, the dedication of coaches and support staff, and the perseverance of the athletes themselves. Their achievements in Dubai are a testament to the country’s commitment to inclusive sports and the promise of a new generation of para-athletes ready to excel on the global stage. Families, communities, and young aspiring athletes across India now have inspiring role models whose discipline, resilience, and success exemplify the transformative power of sport.
As the athletes return home, they bring not just medals, but a sense of pride and optimism for the future of Indian para-sports, signalling the emergence of a formidable, world-class generation of youth competitors.
– global bihari bureau
