Anurag Thakur hails Preeti Pal's silver in Asian Para Games 100m
Synopsis
BJP MP Anurag Thakur congratulated para sprinter Preeti Pal on her silver medal in the Women's 100m T35 at the Asian Para Games 2026, calling her achievement a testament to courage and strength as India continues to build its para athletics profile.
Key Takeaways
Preeti Pal won the silver medal in the Women's 100m T35 event at the Asian Para Games 2026 .
BJP MP Anurag Thakur , former Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, publicly congratulated Pal on October 21, 2026 .
The T35 category covers athletes with coordination impairments competing in running events at para games.
The Asian Para Games are a quadrennial event organised by the Asian Paralympic Committee, serving as a key continental qualifier pathway.
India's Khelo India scheme, launched in 2017 , extended support to para disciplines, contributing to the country's growing para athletics presence.
A sprint finish on the para athletics track just earned Preeti Pal a silver medal in the Women's 100m T35 event at the Asian Para Games 2026 — and the congratulations are pouring in from the highest political echelons. BJP MP Anurag Thakur, former Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, took to X on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, to salute the para sprinter's achievement.
Thakur wrote: 'Heartiest congratulations to our ace athlete Preeti Pal on winning the Silver Medal in the Women's 100m T35 event at the Asian Para Games 2026. The whole nation salutes your courage and strength. Keep Winning!'
Preeti Pal's T35 silver — what the category means
The T35 classification covers athletes with coordination impairments — including those affected by conditions such as cerebral palsy — who compete in running events. Winning a medal in this category at a continental championship demands not just physical conditioning but extraordinary mental resolve. Pal's silver places her among the continent's elite para sprinters.
The Asian Para Games are organised by the Asian Paralympic Committee and held every four years, mirroring the Asian Games cycle. The event serves as a critical proving ground for athletes targeting future Paralympic qualification and global ranking points.
India's para sport push — from Khelo India to the continental stage
India's growing footprint at para multi-sport events tracks directly to policy investment that began taking shape in the mid-2010s. The Khelo India scheme, launched in 2017, broadened its mandate to include para disciplines — channelling identification programmes, coaching support, and competition exposure toward athletes who had historically operated on the margins of state funding.
Thakur himself, as a former sports minister, was among the political voices that framed para athletics as a national priority rather than a footnote. Pal's silver is the kind of result that validates that framing — a name, a medal, a moment that gives the policy a human face.
For India's para athletics contingent, every podium finish at the Asian Para Games builds the narrative heading into the next Paralympic cycle — and raises the bar for the athletes who follow.
Point of View
The next Paralympic cycle will carry heightened political as well as athletic stakes.
NationPress
21 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Preeti Pal and what medal did she win?
Preeti Pal is an Indian para sprinter who won the silver medal in the Women's 100m T35 event at the Asian Para Games 2026.
What is the T35 classification in para athletics?
T35 is a Paralympic classification for athletes with coordination impairments — such as those caused by cerebral palsy — who compete in running track events.
What are the Asian Para Games?
The Asian Para Games are a quadrennial multi-sport event for Asian athletes with disabilities, organised by the Asian Paralympic Committee and held alongside the Asian Games cycle.
What is India's Khelo India scheme and does it cover para sports?
Khelo India is a government scheme launched in 2017 to identify and support talented athletes across disciplines; its mandate includes para sports, providing funding and competition pathways for para athletes.
Why did Anurag Thakur congratulate Preeti Pal?
Anurag Thakur, a BJP MP and former Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, congratulated Preeti Pal on her silver medal at the Asian Para Games 2026, calling her achievement a symbol of courage and national pride.
