Anurag Thakur Hails Hokato Sema's Bronze at Asian Para Games
Synopsis
BJP MP Anurag Thakur congratulated para-athlete Hokato Hotozhe Sema for winning the bronze medal in Men's Shot Put F56/F57 at the 5th Asian Para Games 2026, highlighting India's growing para-sport momentum backed by Khelo India and TOPS scheme expansions since 2018.
Key Takeaways
Hokato Hotozhe Sema won the Bronze Medal in Men's Shot Put F56/F57 at the 5th Asian Para Games 2026 .
BJP MP Anurag Thakur , former Union Minister for Sports, publicly congratulated Sema on 21 October 2026 .
The F56/F57 category is for field athletes competing from a throwing frame or wheelchair with limited trunk function.
India expanded para-athlete support through the revised Khelo India programme and Target Olympic Podium Scheme from 2018 onward.
India's para-sport medal counts at Asian Para Games and Paralympics have risen steadily since 2016 .
A shot put throw and a podium finish — Hokato Hotozhe Sema has added his name to India's growing para-athletics honour roll, claiming the Bronze Medal in the Men's Shot Put F56/F57 event at the 5th Asian Para Games 2026. BJP MP Anurag Thakur, former Union Minister for Sports, was among the first to mark the achievement publicly, posting his congratulations on Wednesday, 21 October 2026.
Sema on the podium: what the F56/F57 category means
The F56/F57 classification covers field athletes who compete from a throwing frame or wheelchair, with limited trunk function. Winning a bronze medal in this category at a continental Games demands not just raw power but exceptional technique and discipline. Thakur's post, tagged #Cheer4Bharat and #Praise4Para, reflected the steady political attention India's para-sport community has attracted in recent years.
India's para-sport push: from Jakarta 2018 to 2026
India's investment in para athletics has grown measurably since the 2018 Asian Para Games in Jakarta, when a strong medal haul prompted policy action. The revised Khelo India programme and the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) were both extended to include para-athletes from 2018 onward, channelling funding into coaching, specialised equipment and international exposure. The results have shown up in steadily rising medal counts at both the Asian Para Games and successive Paralympics editions since 2016.
Thakur, who oversaw the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports during a period when several of these reforms deepened, has made a consistent habit of personally acknowledging individual para-athlete podium finishes — a gesture that athletes and advocacy groups note carries symbolic weight beyond the social-media moment.
What Sema's bronze adds to India's 2026 tally
Each medal at the 2026 Asian Para Games feeds into India's broader ambition to establish itself as a competitive force in para-sports across Asia. With the Games ongoing, further podium finishes remain in play, and analysts watching the contingent's performance will be tracking the cumulative tally as a benchmark for the next round of scheme reviews — potentially reflected in the following Union Budget allocations for para-sport infrastructure.
For now, the number that matters is three — bronze — and the name attached to it is Hokato Hotozhe Sema. India's para-athletes keep writing a story that policy and prime-time attention are only beginning to catch up with.
Point of View
The cumulative medal tally will serve as a live scorecard for the effectiveness of nearly a decade of incremental investment — and for advocates pressing for deeper budgetary commitments in the next cycle.
NationPress
21 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Hokato Hotozhe Sema?
Hokato Hotozhe Sema is an Indian para-athlete who competes in the shot put F56/F57 category at international competitions, representing India at the Asian Para Games.
What is the F56/F57 classification in para athletics?
F56/F57 is a para-athletics field classification for athletes who compete in throwing events from a throwing frame or wheelchair and have limited trunk function.
What are the 5th Asian Para Games 2026?
The Asian Para Games is a quadrennial multi-sport competition for athletes with disabilities across Asia. The 5th edition is being held in 2026, with India fielding a contingent across multiple events.
How has India supported para-athletes in recent years?
India expanded support for para-athletes by including them in the revised Khelo India programme and the Target Olympic Podium Scheme from 2018 onward, following a strong Asian Para Games performance in Jakarta.
Why did Anurag Thakur congratulate Hokato Sema?
As a former Union Minister for Sports and a sitting BJP MP, Anurag Thakur has consistently acknowledged individual para-athlete podium finishes, using platforms like X to highlight their achievements to a national audience.
