Anurag Thakur Hails Rakeshbhai Bhatt's Bronze at Asian Para Games 2026
Synopsis
BJP MP Anurag Thakur congratulated para-sprinter Rakeshbhai Bhatt on winning bronze in the Men's 100m T37 Final at the Asian Para Games 2026, underlining India's growing para-sport footprint at the continental level.
Key Takeaways
Rakeshbhai Bhatt won bronze in the Men's 100m T37 Final at the Asian Para Games 2026 .
The T37 classification covers track athletes with coordination impairments, typically linked to cerebral palsy.
BJP MP Anurag Thakur extended congratulations on 21 October 2026 via X.
The Asian Para Games is held every four years by the Asian Paralympic Committee and is Asia's largest multi-disability sports event.
India's Khelo India programme, active since 2017 , has expanded dedicated support for para-athletes at the international level.
A bronze medal in the Men's 100m T37 Final at the Asian Para Games 2026 — and the cheers rang out almost immediately from New Delhi. BJP MP Anurag Thakur, who helmed India's sports ministry for years and has long championed para-athletes on the national stage, took to X on Wednesday, 21 October 2026 to congratulate sprinter Rakeshbhai Bhatt on the podium finish.
Bhatt's T37 bronze and what the classification means
The T37 classification covers athletes with coordination impairments — typically cerebral palsy affecting muscle control — who compete in track events. Winning a medal in the 100m at continental level in this class demands exceptional neuromuscular discipline and years of specialised coaching. Bhatt's bronze places him among Asia's top three sprinters in his category.
Asian Para Games: the continental stage for para-sport
The Asian Para Games is organised by the Asian Paralympic Committee every four years, running parallel to the Asian Games cycle. It is the largest multi-sport event for athletes with disabilities on the continent, and performance here is a key qualifier indicator for Paralympic selection cycles that follow. India has steadily expanded its contingent and medal haul across recent editions.
Thakur's consistent record of recognising para-athletes
As Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Thakur oversaw the scaling-up of the Khelo India programme — launched in 2017 — which extended dedicated coaching, equipment grants, and competition funding to para-athletes alongside their able-bodied counterparts. That institutional investment is widely credited with lifting India's para-sport infrastructure. His public acknowledgment of Bhatt's medal fits a consistent pattern: every podium finish by an Indian para-athlete at a major continental or global event draws a formal congratulatory message from current and former sports officeholders.
For Bhatt, the bronze is a marker. For Indian para-sport, it is another data point in a trajectory that has been pointing upward for nearly a decade.
Point of View
Not just individual talent, is driving India's continental medal count. Each such acknowledgment also keeps the pressure on the current ministry to sustain funding levels. As the Asian Para Games 2026 continues, watch for whether a cumulative medal tally prompts a more formal government statement on para-sport support.
NationPress
21 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Rakeshbhai Bhatt?
Rakeshbhai Bhatt is an Indian para-athlete competing in the T37 classification, which covers track events for athletes with coordination impairments. He won bronze in the Men's 100m T37 Final at the Asian Para Games 2026.
What is the T37 classification in para-athletics?
The T37 classification is for athletes with coordination impairments — most commonly cerebral palsy — who have some walking or running ability. The 'T' stands for track, and athletes in this class compete in sprint and distance running events.
What are the Asian Para Games?
The Asian Para Games is a multi-sport event for athletes with disabilities, organised by the Asian Paralympic Committee every four years. It is the largest para-sport competition on the Asian continent.
What is India's Khelo India programme?
Khelo India is a Government of India initiative launched in 2017 under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. It provides training, equipment, and funding support to athletes — including para-athletes — to develop grassroots and elite sports talent.
Why did Anurag Thakur congratulate Rakeshbhai Bhatt?
As a former Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports and a sitting BJP MP, Anurag Thakur has consistently publicly recognised Indian para-athletes' medal wins at major international events. He posted congratulations on X after Bhatt's bronze at the Asian Para Games 2026.
