Arunachal CM's Office hails Marbom Boje's Asian Para Games pick
Synopsis
Arunachal Pradesh's Chief Minister's Office congratulated para athlete Marbom Boje on his selection for India's 2026 Asian Para Games team, highlighting his journey under the state's CM ACES support scheme as a milestone for the northeastern state.
Key Takeaways
Marbom Boje , a para athlete from Arunachal Pradesh , has been selected for the Indian team at the 2026 Asian Para Games .
The Chief Minister's Office of Arunachal Pradesh publicly credited the CM ACES state athlete support scheme for enabling Boje's development.
CM ACES is Arunachal Pradesh's government scheme designed to provide financial and logistical support to promising athletes.
The selection is seen as a milestone for the state's growing investment in para sports infrastructure.
Northeastern states have been expanding such schemes to increase participation in national and international para events, aligned with India's inclusive sports policy push.
A para athlete from one of India's most remote northeastern states has earned a place on the national team — and the state government wants the country to know it. The Chief Minister's Office of Arunachal Pradesh on Friday, October 16, 2026, congratulated Marbom Boje on his selection for the Indian team at the 2026 Asian Para Games, calling his achievement 'a proud milestone for Arunachal Pradesh.'
From state scheme to national squad
What makes Boje's selection particularly significant is the explicit credit given to CM ACES — the Arunachal Pradesh state government's athlete support scheme — as the backbone of his journey. The CMO's post noted that Boje was 'supported under CM ACES,' signalling that the scheme's investment in grassroots para-sports is now yielding results at the highest level of Asian competition. It is a rare, direct line from a state welfare programme to an international selection announcement.
Arunachal's quiet push into para sports
Arunachal Pradesh is part of a broader trend among northeastern Indian states that have steadily expanded athlete support infrastructure to plug participation gaps in national and international para events. The region has historically faced logistical and funding barriers that kept talented athletes off the radar of national selectors. State-level schemes like CM ACES are designed precisely to close that gap — covering coaching, equipment, and competition exposure that many athletes in the region could not otherwise access.
India's national sports policy has increasingly emphasised inclusive sports, and state governments have responded by tailoring programmes to local contexts. Boje's selection is a tangible data point in that larger story.
Eyes on the 2026 Asian Para Games
The 2026 Asian Para Games represent one of the continent's premier multi-sport events for para athletes, drawing competitors from across Asia in a wide range of disciplines. With the Games ahead, the Indian para contingent's preparations will be closely watched — and Arunachal Pradesh now has a direct stake in the outcome. The CMO closed its message wishing Boje and the full Indian team 'every success,' a gesture that underscores state pride extending beyond a single athlete to the collective national effort.
For a state that borders China, Bhutan, and Myanmar and has long defined itself through resilience, sending a para athlete to represent India is more than a sporting moment. It is a statement.
Point of View
Athletes from historically underrepresented regions reach national squads. The Arunachal CMO's deliberate attribution to CM ACES is also a political signal — it positions the ruling establishment as an enabler of inclusive excellence ahead of what will likely be a high-visibility Games. More broadly, as India sharpens its para-sports ambitions across Asia, northeastern states are increasingly the frontier where new talent is being cultivated, and Boje's story could encourage further investment from both state and central sport bodies.
NationPress
16 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CM ACES in Arunachal Pradesh?
CM ACES is the Chief Minister's athlete support scheme run by the Government of Arunachal Pradesh. It provides assistance to promising sportspersons in the state to help them compete at higher levels of national and international competition.
When are the 2026 Asian Para Games?
The 2026 Asian Para Games are a forthcoming multi-sport event for para athletes in Asia. Specific dates and host city details are yet to be widely confirmed, but the Indian team is in preparation.
Why is Marbom Boje's selection significant for Arunachal Pradesh?
It marks a rare instance of an athlete from the northeastern frontier state making the Indian para team for a major Asian multi-sport event, validating the state's investment in grassroots para-sports through CM ACES.
How is Arunachal Pradesh supporting para athletes?
Arunachal Pradesh supports para athletes primarily through the CM ACES scheme, which covers aspects of athlete development. The state is part of a broader northeastern trend of expanding sport infrastructure to boost international participation.
