India Wins 16 Golds at Dubai 2026 Para Athletics Opener

Paralympic stars are proving their golden moments in Paris were no fluke, launching the 2026 season with power and grace in Dubai.

India swept the medals table at the first World Para Athletics Grand Prix of the year, claiming 16 golds and 43 total medals. Two-time Paralympic champion Sumit Antil led the charge in men's javelin, joined by fellow Paris 2024 winners Navdeep and Dharambir Nain who each claimed gold in their events.

The four-day competition at Dubai Club for People of Determination brought together the world's best para athletes for the season's first major test. Colombia finished second with 11 golds, while Kenya captured six, showing the global strength of para athletics continues to grow.

Preeti Pal, who made history as India's first female track athlete to win two Paralympic medals, grabbed gold in the women's 100m T35 and bronze in the 200m. Her performances signal she's ready to build on her breakthrough Paris success.

Perhaps the most emotional victory came from India's Bhagyashri Jadhav, who swept both shot put and javelin in the F34 category. "Dubai felt different," she said after winning two golds. "My performance here was the best so far."

The Ripple Effect

Host nation UAE celebrated six gold medals, led by rising star Mohamad Othman who dominated both the 100m and 400m wheelchair races. The 2025 World Championships bronze medalist defeated five-time Paralympic champion Walid Ktila, signaling a new generation ready to compete at the highest level.

Regional records fell on opening day as Kenya's Nathan Kemboi, Colombia's Mauricio Valencia, and India's Gurubaskarase Sakkappan each pushed their events to new heights. Three records in one day shows para athletics is entering a new era of performance.

Tunisia's seven-time Paralympic champion Raoua Tlili added to her legendary career with gold and silver medals, while Kuwait's Faisal Alrajehi claimed two golds in wheelchair distance events. The global talent on display proved para athletics has never been stronger or more competitive.

Sara Aljneibi, UAE's Rio 2016 silver medalist, returned to the top of the podium after years of work, while young Emirati athletes like Thekra Al Kaabi inspired the home crowd with blazing speed. Their performances showed how para sports continue growing across the Middle East.

The Grand Prix circuit now heads to New Delhi in March, giving India's dominant team a chance to shine on home soil and continue their momentum toward the Asian Para Games in Nagoya later this year.