India's Para Asian Games Blazers Feature 5,000-Year-Old Indus Valley Motifs

Ceremonial blazers worn by Indian athletes at the Para Asian Games opening ceremony carried motifs drawn from 5,000 years of civilisation, bringing the country’s heritage into the contingent’s formal appearance.

More than 100 Indian athletes took part in the ceremony on October 19, 2026, as the contingent marched with the Tricolour. Paralympic medallist sprinter Simran Sharma and top shuttler Pramod Bhagat led the contingent as flag-bearers.

Blazers draw from the Indus Valley

The ceremonial blazers featured prints of seals from the Indus Valley, using the ancient script and motifs associated with one of the world’s oldest civilisations. The designs placed the historical references at the centre of the contingent’s ceremonial presentation.

“Team India walked out wearing more than just ceremonial dress: they wore 5,000 years of civilisation. The Indian contingent’s ceremonial blazer is a tribute to our heritage,” the Paralympic Committee of India said.

The blazers also featured SaptSindhu on the collar, honouring the land of the seven rivers and the mighty Saraswati. The Tricolour was placed prominently on the pocket, adding the national flag to the heritage-inspired design.

India’s 281-member contingent

India is fielding a 281-member contingent at the Games. It includes 168 athletes, 112 men and 56 women, who are competing across 11 disciplines.

The Games will conclude on October 24, with around 3,000 athletes from 45 nations competing under the motto “Imagine One Heart”. The participation figures place the Indian presentation within a wider international event bringing together athletes from across the competing nations.

India enters the Games after its most successful Asian Para Games campaign in Hangzhou in 2023. The country finished fifth in the medal standings there, winning a record haul of 111 medals: 29 gold, 31 silver and 51 bronze.

Source: The Hindu