Anurag Thakur hails Bhagat & Manisha's Asian Para Games bronze
Synopsis
BJP MP Anurag Thakur congratulated para shuttlers Pramod Bhagat and Manisha Ramadass on winning the Badminton Mixed Doubles SL3-SU5 bronze medal at the Asian Para Games 2026, celebrating a milestone in India's growing para badminton story.
Key Takeaways
Pramod Bhagat and Manisha Ramadass won Bronze in Badminton Mixed Doubles SL3-SU5 at the Asian Para Games 2026 .
Anurag Thakur , BJP Lok Sabha MP from Hamirpur and former Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, posted his congratulations on 22 October 2026 .
Pramod Bhagat is a Tokyo 2020 Paralympic gold medallist and multiple World Championship title-holder in para badminton SL3 singles.
The Khelo India programme (launched 2017 ) has been central to expanding para athlete training and competition support across India.
India has recorded consistent growth in Asian Para Games medal tallies, with para badminton among its strongest disciplines.
A bronze medal in badminton mixed doubles — and two names that have become synonymous with India's rise in para sport are back on the podium. BJP MP Anurag Thakur on Thursday, 22 October 2026, congratulated para shuttlers Pramod Bhagat and Manisha Ramadass for clinching the Bronze Medal in the Badminton Mixed Doubles SL3-SU5 category at the Asian Para Games 2026.
Bhagat and Manisha on the Asian Para Games podium
Pramod Bhagat is among the most decorated para badminton players India has produced — a Tokyo 2020 Paralympic gold medallist in SL3 singles and a multiple World Championship title-holder. Manisha Ramadass, competing in the SL3-SU5 classification, has built a steady international profile alongside him. Their combined appearance in mixed doubles is a testament to the depth India is developing across para badminton categories, not just in singles.
India's steady climb in Asian Para Games badminton
The Asian Para Games — held every four years for the continent's para athletes — has increasingly become a barometer of how far India's para sport ecosystem has come. Successive editions have seen India send larger contingents and return with improved medal hauls. Para badminton has been one of the consistent bright spots in that story, with athletes like Bhagat anchoring the programme across multiple cycles.
Part of that momentum traces back to the Khelo India programme, launched in 2017, which expanded structured support — dedicated training infrastructure, competition exposure, and specialised coaching — to para athletes who had previously operated with far fewer resources. The medal in Nagoya underlines how that investment is maturing on the Asian stage.
Thakur's continued voice on para sport
Thakur, who served as Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, has been a consistent presence when India's para athletes reach the podium, using his platform to amplify achievements that might otherwise receive muted coverage. His post, tagged #Cheer4Bharat, signals the kind of sustained ministerial attention that para sport advocates have long argued is essential to building public momentum around the movement.
With the next Paralympic Games cycle already in view, performances at continental events like these shape selection confidence, funding conversations, and — crucially — the visibility that draws the next generation of para athletes into the sport.
Point of View
But it sits within a deliberate political-communication pattern: keeping para sport in the public eye reinforces the government's Khelo India narrative around inclusive athletic development. The SL3-SU5 mixed doubles bronze is a relatively modest result for Pramod Bhagat by his own elite standards, yet its significance lies in what it signals about India's bench depth in para badminton — the country is fielding competitive mixed doubles pairs, not just dominant singles players. As the next Paralympic cycle accelerates, moments like these will shape both budget conversations and the media attention para athletes need to attract sponsors and grassroots participation.
NationPress
22 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are Pramod Bhagat and Manisha Ramadass?
Pramod Bhagat is India's most celebrated para badminton player, a Tokyo 2020 Paralympic gold medallist in SL3 singles and multiple World Championship winner. Manisha Ramadass is an Indian para badminton player competing in SL3-SU5 categories with several international appearances to her name.
What medal did India win in para badminton at the Asian Para Games 2026?
India's Pramod Bhagat and Manisha Ramadass won a Bronze Medal in the Badminton Mixed Doubles SL3-SU5 event at the Asian Para Games 2026.
What is the SL3-SU5 classification in para badminton?
In para badminton, SL3 refers to players with lower limb impairment who compete standing, while SU5 denotes players with an upper limb impairment competing standing. Mixed doubles events in this combined category pair athletes from both classifications.
What is the Khelo India programme and how does it support para athletes?
Khelo India is a central government scheme launched in 2017 to develop grassroots sports across India. It expanded support for para athletes through dedicated training infrastructure, competition access, and specialised coaching programmes.
Why does Anurag Thakur regularly post about Indian para sport achievements?
As a former Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Anurag Thakur has maintained consistent public engagement with Indian sports milestones, using his platform to amplify para athlete achievements and reinforce the government's broader Khelo India sports development narrative.
