CM Bhajan Lal hails India's Asian Para Games 2026 medal haul
Synopsis
Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma congratulated five Indian para-athletes — Soumya Kumar, Radha Venkatesh, Rinku, Ajit Singh, and Ravi K. Budgina — for winning medals across athletics and swimming at the Asian Para Games 2026, calling their achievements a source of national pride.
Key Takeaways
Soumya Kumar won gold in the para 1500 metres at Asian Para Games 2026.
Radha Venkatesh won silver in the same 1500m event, giving India a 1-2 finish.
Rinku claimed gold and Ajit Singh claimed silver in the para javelin throw .
Budgina won silver in the 100m freestyle para swimming .
Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma personally named each medallist in his congratulatory post on 19 October 2026 .
Gold in the 1500 metres, gold in the javelin, and a clutch of silvers in the pool and on the track — India's para-athletes delivered a multi-sport burst at the Asian Para Games 2026, and Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma was quick to salute each of them on Monday, 19 October 2026.
Sharma's congratulatory message, posted in Hindi on X, named every medallist by name — a pointed choice that lifted individuals out of the blur of a medal tally and put faces to the flags. 'आपकी हर जीत भारत का गौरव है' ('Every victory of yours is India's pride'), he wrote, calling their achievements 'a glorious proof of extraordinary talent, relentless effort and unbreakable resolve.'
Soumya Kumar's 1500m gold and Radha Venkatesh's silver
Soumya Kumar topped the podium in the para 1500 metres, with compatriot Radha Venkatesh finishing second — a one-two finish that put India's para-athletics programme firmly in the frame. A clean sweep of the top two spots in a distance event at continental level is no small footnote; it signals depth, not just individual brilliance.
Rinku's javelin gold and Ajit Singh's silver
In the para javelin throw, Rinku claimed gold while Ajit Singh secured silver — another Indian double on the field. The javelin has been a particularly fertile discipline for Indian para-sport, and this podium sweep adds to a growing tradition of excellence in the event at Asian level.
Ravi K. Budgina's silver in the 100m freestyle
Ravi K. Budgina rounded out India's medal count with a silver in the 100 metres freestyle para swimming — a result that broadens the haul beyond track and field and underlines how India's para-sport infrastructure is producing competitors across disciplines, not just in its traditional strongholds.
Five medals. Three golds. Five names. That is the headline Sharma chose to amplify — and it is a headline worth sitting with. India's para-athletes have long operated in the shadow of their Olympic counterparts; each podium finish at an event of this scale chips steadily away at that gap.
Point of View
The gesture carries low political risk but visible symbolic value, associating his administration's image with aspiration and inclusive excellence. The real test, analysts would note, is whether the applause translates into structural support — improved training facilities, stipends, and selection pipelines for para-athletes in states like Rajasthan.
NationPress
20 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won gold for India at Asian Para Games 2026 in athletics?
Soumya Kumar won gold in the para 1500 metres and Rinku won gold in the para javelin throw at the Asian Para Games 2026.
What medals did India win at Asian Para Games 2026?
India won at least five medals — three golds and two silvers — with Soumya Kumar (1500m gold), Radha Venkatesh (1500m silver), Rinku (javelin gold), Ajit Singh (javelin silver), and Ravi K. Budgina (100m freestyle swimming silver).
Who is Ravi K. Budgina?
Ravi K. Budgina is an Indian para-swimmer who won a silver medal in the 100 metres freestyle event at the Asian Para Games 2026.
What did Bhajan Lal Sharma say about Asian Para Games 2026?
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma praised the para-athletes on X, calling their medals 'a glorious proof of extraordinary talent, relentless effort and unbreakable resolve' and said every victory is India's pride.
Where is the Asian Para Games 2026 being held?
The exact host city of the Asian Para Games 2026 is not specified in available information at this time.
