Disabled AG athletes return home with 100 medals... “Now it’s the LA Paralympic Games”

(Yeongjong Island = Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Dong-han = The Korean team that participated in the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games (Asian Para Games) returned with 100 medals.

The Korean team, including team leader Park Heung-sik, returned to Korea through Incheon International Airport on the afternoon of the 25th after completing a seven-day competitive match.

Jang Min-ho (Anyang City Hall), who set a new world record in track and field, appeared at the arrival hall at the front of the team, holding the Taegeukgi and alongside 'table tennis triple champion' Yoon Ji-yu (Seongnam City Hall). The two players served as joint flagbearers at the opening ceremony on the 18th.

Korea won 29 gold medals, 38 silver medals, and 33 bronze medals in this competition, ranking 5th overall after China, Japan, Uzbekistan, and India.

This is a performance that exceeded both goals of more than 21 gold medals and 6th place overall.

The athletes left the arrival hall and moved to the welcome event area set up near the arrival hall A of Incheon International Airport's Terminal 2.

At the welcoming ceremony held at 6 p.m., about 300 people attended, including Jin-wan Jeong, president of the Korea Sports Association for the Disabled, Heung-sik Park, director of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism Kang Dae-geum, general manager Jeon Jeon-ju, and support team leader Hee-ryong Lee. The event was held in an abbreviated format considering the arrival of a large number of athletes and airport conditions.

Director Park said, “Today, the players came back proudly holding medals in their hearts,” and added, “I am really proud of our players.”

He continued, “All the athletes did their best until the end and continued to take on valuable challenges in the name of the Republic of Korea,” and added, “Our athletes will move forward vigorously toward the 2028 Los Angeles (LA) Paralympic Games.”

Korea dispatched a team of 357 athletes (214 athletes and 143 officials) in all 18 sports to this tournament.

Table tennis led the medal hunt with 12 gold medals, the most ever at the Asian Para Games, and Kim Hyun-wook (Gyeonggi Province Sports Association for the Disabled) and Yoon Ji-yu won three gold medals.

Min-ho Jang won the men's 100m (sports class T13) with a new Asian record of 10.48 seconds, and then broke the world record in the 400m with 46.24 seconds.

Korea's first gold medals at the Asian Para Games were also won in wheelchair rugby and wheelchair fencing.

Chairman Chung said, "I am proud of the players who did not give up and challenged their limits even in the fierce competition of Asia's best players," and added, "I hope that the experience, confidence, and even regrets gained from this tournament will be turned into valuable assets for future challenges."

He continued, “The Korean Sports Association for the Disabled will continue to support your new challenges and bright tomorrow,” and added, “Now let’s prepare for the 2028 LA Paralympic Games.”

At the welcoming ceremony on this day, Director Park returned the team flag to Chairman Chung, and the official schedule of the tournament concluded with the presentation of bouquets of flowers to the medalists and a commemorative photo.