Asian Para Games: Kapil Parmar wins bronze medal with ippon in 69 seconds

October 19, 2026

Nagoya: Indian para-judo athlete Kapil Parmar won the bronze medal in the men’s J1-70 kg event at the 2026 Asian Para Games on Monday. He defeated Indonesia’s Rafli Ahnaf Shidki via ippon in just 1 minute and 9 seconds at the Aichi Prefectural Martial Arts Hall in Japan.

With this win, India’s medal tally reached three on the first day of the competition. Kapil, who won bronze at the Paris Paralympics, made a remarkable comeback after losing in the semi-finals to secure his place on the podium.

Strong performance in the quarter-finals as well

Kapil Parmar faced Mongolia’s Baataarsuren Bat-Erdene in the quarter-finals to reach the bronze medal match. The match was a close one, with Kapil winning by ippon after a golden score of 4 minutes and 53 seconds to advance to the semi-finals.

However, his hopes of reaching the final were dashed by Indonesia’s Juneidi, who defeated him by ippon in the semi-finals. Kapil then made a comeback in the bronze medal match and defeated Shidki in just 69 seconds to win the medal.

Making a mark in Para-Judo since 2017

Kapil Parmar, a resident of Sehore, Madhya Pradesh, has been participating in Para-Judo since 2017. He competes in the J1 category, which is reserved for visually impaired athletes. Under the guidance of coach Munawar Anzar Ali Siddiqui, Kapil has made a name for himself in the sport.

His international achievements include a bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, a silver medal at the last Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, and a gold medal at the 2019 Commonwealth Judo Championships. He has also won several titles at IBSA Grand Prix competitions and seven gold medals at the national level.

Has also been honored with the Arjuna Award

In recognition of his contributions to Indian sports, Kapil Parmar has been awarded the Arjuna Award for the year 2024-25. He is also a Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) athlete, reflecting his significant role in India’s para-judo program.

His bronze medal at the Asian Para Games is another significant achievement in his career. Kapil’s victory bolsters India’s medal campaign, as Indian para-athletes compete for medals in various sports.