Anurag Thakur hails Baby Sahana Ravi's bronze at Asian Para Games 2026
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
A bronze medal in Women's Singles Class 9 Para Table Tennis — and India has another reason to cheer at the Asian Para Games 2026. BJP MP Anurag Thakur, former Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, took to X on Tuesday, 20 October 2026 to congratulate para table tennis player Baby Sahana Ravi on her podium finish at the continental para-sport showpiece.
Baby Sahana Ravi's bronze on the Class 9 stage
Competing in the Women's Singles Class 9 category — a classification for athletes with moderate limb impairment affecting playing ability — Baby Sahana Ravi secured a bronze medal, adding her name to India's growing para-sport roll of honour at the Games. Thakur's post, hashtagged #Cheer4Bharat and #AsianParaGames2026, called her an 'ace table tennis player,' signalling the recognition her result has drawn at the national level.
Why Thakur's voice carries weight here
Thakur served as Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports and was a driving force behind several government initiatives to spotlight Indian athletes on the world stage. His continued engagement with sports milestones — even from the back benches — reflects a personal and political stake in India's athletic identity. For para athletes in particular, such public acknowledgement from a senior political figure has historically helped amplify visibility and institutional support.
India's para-sport momentum at the 2026 Games
The Asian Para Games is one of Asia's premier multi-sport events for para athletes, held under the aegis of the Asian Paralympic Committee. India has steadily expanded its para-sport footprint at the continental level over recent editions, with table tennis emerging as a consistent medal discipline. Sahana Ravi's bronze contributes to that momentum — and, with competition still ongoing, the final medal tally remains a live story.
A young para table tennis player from India steps off the court with a continental medal around her neck. The scoreboard has moved. Watch the tally grow.