Indian para-athletes Praveen Kumar and Banti (PTI Photo)

NEW DELHI: India’s para-athletes have scripted history at the Asian Para Games, recording their best-ever medal haul of 114 medals, including a record 30 gold, after a spectacular nine-gold flourish on Friday. But with a few events remaining on the final day, one question remains: where will India finish in the medal standings?India are currently fourth in the standings at the Aichi-Nagoya Games, having surpassed their previous best of 108 medals, including 27 gold, achieved at Hangzhou in 2023. The contingent also improved its gold-medal record by three, underlining the scale of its achievement in Japan.However, the final positions could still change when the remaining competitions conclude on Saturday. South Korea, currently fifth, are the biggest threat to India’s fourth-place standing, while Iran also have a mathematical chance of moving up. There are no events left for the Indian athletes in the Games.Regardless of the final position, India are assured of their best-ever finish in terms of medal standings at the Asian Para Games. Their previous best was sixth place at Hangzhou in 2023.ALSO READ: India script history with best-ever haul of 114 medals

Can South Korea push India down to fifth?

India’s 30 gold medals put them ahead of South Korea, who have won 28 gold, 36 silver and 33 bronze medals for a total of 97.South Korea could overtake India if they win two more gold medals in the remaining events. That would take them level with India on 30 gold, and their higher silver count — 36 to India’s 35 — would give them the edge in the standings.Iran are sixth with 26 gold, 36 silver and 40 bronze medals. They would need four more gold medals to draw level with India, making a late jump above the Indian contingent a tougher prospect with only a few events remaining.India’s final position will therefore depend on results in the remaining competition schedule. The standings will be confirmed once the last events are completed on Saturday.

Nine golds cap India’s historic campaign

India’s record haul was sealed by a remarkable final-day performance on Friday, when the contingent won nine gold medals — its highest single-day gold tally of this edition.Athletics remained India’s biggest contributor, accounting for 65 medals, 12 more than at the previous Games. Badminton, shooting and archery added to the golden finish.The 168-member Indian contingent’s performance was particularly impressive given that it was nearly half the size of the squad that competed in Hangzhou in 2023.

China dominate as Japan and Uzbekistan follow

China continued to lead the standings by a substantial margin, crossing the 200-gold mark and reaching 427 medals. Hosts Japan were second with 185 medals, including 63 gold, while Uzbekistan occupied third place with 145 medals, including 45 gold.India’s fourth-place position remains under scrutiny until the final events conclude, but the overall achievement is already historic. With 114 medals and 30 gold, the Indian contingent has set new benchmarks for its performance at the Asian Para Games.The final standings will be confirmed on Saturday, when the remaining competitions conclude ahead of the closing ceremony.

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