New Delhi, 24 October: Indian para-athlete Navdeep Singh has credited the training environment and support at the Sports Authority of India’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
Navdeep, who finished fourth at the previous edition in 2022, said training alongside fellow Indian athletes at the stadium’s main track helped him acclimatise to the competitive environment ahead of the Games in Aichi-Nagoya.
India finished fourth in the overall standings with 114 medals, including 30 gold, 35 silver and 49 bronze, marking its best-ever performance at the continental para-sport event. Para-athletics accounted for 65 of the country’s medals, with 22 gold, 19 silver and 24 bronze.
“Most of us Asian Games-bound athletes, including me, did our preparations at the JLN Stadium for the Asian Games 2026,” Navdeep said after his medal-winning performance. “This allowed us to acclimatise and get the feel. Despite the ongoing (Indian Super League) football matches, they kept the Asian Games a priority, which I felt was quite impressive, and that supported me,” he added.
The Paris Paralympics gold medallist also highlighted the benefits of having access to the main track and dedicated training space, saying it allowed athletes to prepare without unnecessary interruptions or delays.
