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India's No. 1 Para Table Tennis Star Nurjahan Noorali Battles for Asian Para Games Spot

India's No. 1 para table tennis player Nurjahan Noorali is competing in a decisive international campaign across Europe and Asia to qualify for the 2026 Asian Para Games in Japan. Ranked World No. 27 in Class 7, she is targeting a Top 6 finish in Asia across four tournaments in Montenegro, Slovenia, and Taiwan. Diagnosed with polio at age five, she returned to competitive table tennis in 2022 and has since won national titles and risen to India's top ranking. She is supported by Adani Sportsline's 'Garv Hai' initiative, balancing her sporting career with her role as a Junior Officer at Adani Airport Holdings Limited.

Key Points: Nurjahan Noorali: India's Para Table Tennis Star Eyes Asian Para Games

  • Campaign includes four tournaments across Europe and Asia
  • Currently ranked World No. 27 in Class 7
  • Targeting Top 6 finish in Asia for qualification
  • Won gold at UTT National Para Table Tennis Championships
  • Works as Junior Officer at Adani Airport Holdings Limited
3 min read

India No. 1 Nurjahan Noorali in key international campaign for Asian Para Games qualification

India's No. 1 para table tennis player Nurjahan Noorali competes in four international tournaments for 2026 Asian Para Games qualification.

"This phase is crucial for my qualification. With consistent support and the right training environment, I am focused on breaking into the Top 6 in Asia. - Nurjahan Noorali"

Ahmedabad, May 5

India's No. 1 para table tennis player, Nurjahan Noorali, is competing in a decisive international campaign, with four tournaments across Europe and Asia, forming a critical part of her qualification push for the 2026 Asian Para Games to be held in Japan in October. Ranked World No. 27 in Class 7 under the International Table Tennis Federation World Para Table Tennis rankings, Nurjahan enters this phase with a clear objective, according to a release.

Her campaign opened at the ITTF World Para Challenger Podgorica in Montenegro from April 29 to May 2.

She is competing at the ITTF World Para Challenger Lasko, Slovenia, from May 5 to 9, followed by the ITTF World Para Elite Lasko from May 11 to 15, before concluding at the ITTF World Para Elite Taipei City, Taiwan, from May 17 to 21. Currently ranked No. 8 in Asia, she is targeting a Top 6 finish to secure qualification, making this one of the most important phases of her career. Diagnosed with polio at the age of five, Nurjahan returned to competitive table tennis in 2022 and has since made rapid progress.

She won gold at the Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) National Para Table Tennis Championships and defended her title at the UTT Para Senior National Championship 2025-26 in Indore earlier this year, a result that propelled her to India's No. 1 in her category. Based in Ahmedabad, Nurjahan works as a Junior Officer at Adani Airport Holdings Limited (AAHL), which has supported her with flexibility and leave to focus on training and international competition. Her preparation has been strengthened through structured support that includes guidance on tournament selection, access to recommended coaching expertise, regular performance monitoring and financial backing for international participation, enabling her to compete consistently at the highest level.

"This phase is crucial for my qualification. With consistent support and the right training environment, I am focused on breaking into the Top 6 in Asia," said Nurjahan. Pranav Adani, Director, Adani Enterprises Limited (AEL), said, "Nurjahan's journey reflects grit, resilience and discipline. Her ability to balance professional responsibilities with sporting excellence makes her stand out. We are proud to support her as she prepares for this important phase and aims to make the country proud." Through its 'Garv Hai' initiative, Adani Sportsline continues to support emerging athletes with the resources, exposure and ecosystem needed to perform at the highest level.

With qualification on the line, the ongoing international circuit marks a defining phase in Nurjahan's journey on the global stage.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Siddharth Jain
Great to see Indian para athletes getting corporate support from companies like Adani. This is how we build a sporting culture in India - not just with government schemes, but with private sector backing. Nurjahan's determination is remarkable. All the best for the remaining tournaments in Slovenia and Taipei! 🙌
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Rohit Patel
Honestly, it's heartbreaking how little media coverage para sports get in India. Nurjahan is competing in four tournaments across Europe and Asia for qualification, and most people won't even know. She's ranked 27th in the world in Class 7 and India's No. 1 - that's a massive achievement. Hope more journalists write about such inspiring stories. Our para athletes deserve recognition equal to their able-bodied counterparts.
A
Ananya Iyer
Wow, what a journey! From polio diagnosis at age 5 to now defending national titles and competing internationally. Seven tournaments in such a short span - Podgorica, Lasko (twice!), Taipei - that's a grueling schedule. The fact that she's also working at Adani while doing all this makes it even more impressive. Wishing her all the best for breaking into Top 6 in Asia. Japan 2026 awaits! 🏓✨
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Vikram Singh
One suggestion: while private sponsorship is great, I wish the government also stepped up more for para athletes. Nurjahan is literally India's No. 1 and she still has to rely on corporate flexibility and leave to compete. What about athletes who don't have such supportive employers? We need a proper Sports Ministry scheme for para athletes. But regardless, kudos to Nurjahan for her grit and to Adani for supporting her. Let's hope she qualifies for the Asian Para Games!

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