Who is Himanshu Nandal? The swimmer who won three bronze medals at Asian Para Games

Indian para-swimmer Himanshu Nandal made his mark at the Asian Para Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, completing a hat-trick of bronze medals with another podium finish in the men's 100m freestyle S11 event on Friday. The 22-year-old clocked 1 minute 5.90 seconds to finish third, behind Japan's Uchu Tomita, who won gold in a Games-record time of 58.22 seconds, and China's Chuanzhen Sun, who took silver in 58.70 seconds. Nandal's latest medal added to his earlier bronze finishes in the men's 400m freestyle and 100m breaststroke S11 events. He became one of India's standout performers in para swimming, matching compatriot Ravi Budigina's three-medal haul at the Games, which comprised two silver medals and a bronze.

Born blind due to optic nerve failure, Nandal grew up in a sports-oriented family in Rohtak, Haryana. His father had played hockey at the national level, and sport became part of his life from an early age. At four, Nandal moved to Delhi and joined the National Association for the Blind, where he learnt Braille. He initially took up judo and went on to win medals at the national level before switching to swimming in 2021. The change opened a new chapter in his sporting journey, as he quickly progressed from domestic competitions to the international stage.

Nandal achieved a significant milestone in 2024 when he became the first Indian blind swimmer to meet the Minimum Qualification Standard for the Paris Paralympics. A political science graduate from the University of Delhi's Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma College, he continued to build his experience against international opposition. In 2025, he reached two finals at the World Para Swimming Championships in Singapore. At the Asian Para Games, Nandal began his medal-winning run on Tuesday, clocking 5:10.91 to secure bronze in the men's 400m freestyle S11 event. He followed it up with another third-place finish in the 100m breaststroke before completing his hat-trick in the 100m freestyle on Friday. The S11 classification is for swimmers with visual impairment, including those with very low visual acuity or no light perception. Nandal's three-medal campaign in Japan marks another milestone in his progress as an Indian para-swimmer and adds to his growing experience at major international competitions.