CM Bhupendra Patel hails Bhavina Patel's bronze at Asian Para Games 2026
Synopsis
Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel celebrated para table tennis star Bhavina Patel and partner Shubham Wadhwa after they won bronze in Mixed Doubles Class XD7 at the Asian Para Games 2026, calling it another proud moment for Indian para sport.
Key Takeaways
Bhavina Patel and Shubham Wadhwa won a bronze medal in Mixed Doubles Class XD7 at the Asian Para Games 2026 .
Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel publicly congratulated both athletes on October 22, 2026 .
Bhavina Patel is a Gujarat-based para table tennis player with a strong record at Paralympic and continental events.
The Asian Para Games is held every four years under the Asian Paralympic Committee and serves as a key qualifier metric for future Paralympic cycles.
Indian para athletes have recorded consistent medal gains at continental events over the past decade, with table tennis among the leading disciplines.
Gujarat's own Bhavina Patel has done it again — stepping onto an international podium and carrying India's flag a little higher. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel took to X on Thursday, October 22, 2026 to congratulate Bhavina Patel and Shubham Wadhwa on clinching a bronze medal in Mixed Doubles Class XD7 at the Asian Para Games 2026.
A Gujarat champion on the continental stage
Bhavina Patel has become one of India's most recognised faces in para table tennis, having represented the country at the Paralympic Games and consistently competed at the highest continental levels. Her Gujarat roots make each medal a matter of particular pride for the state — and CM Bhupendra Patel made that connection explicit, calling it 'another proud moment for Indian para table tennis.'
Her pairing with Shubham Wadhwa in the Mixed Doubles XD7 category adds a team dimension to what has often been a story of individual excellence. The bronze places both athletes among Asia's elite in their respective classifications.
India's para sports momentum at Asian Para Games 2026
The Asian Para Games, held every four years under the Asian Paralympic Committee, is the premier multi-sport continental event for para athletes across the continent. For India, it has increasingly become a proving ground — results here feed directly into national selections and the longer road toward future Paralympic cycles.
Over the past decade, Indian para athletes have recorded a steady, visible rise in medal tallies at both continental and global events. Table tennis has been one of the disciplines leading that charge, and Bhavina Patel has been at its centre.
Visibility as policy: why state leaders speak up
When a chief minister amplifies a para athlete's win on a public platform, it is rarely just courtesy. Across India, state governments have recognised that celebrating para sporting success builds a pipeline — inspiring young athletes, attracting grassroots infrastructure investment, and signalling that para sport belongs in the mainstream conversation alongside cricket and athletics. Gujarat has leaned into this pattern consistently.
The hashtags #AsianParaGames2026 and #Cheer4Bharat in the CM's post also tap into a coordinated national chorus of support, amplifying reach beyond Gujarat's borders and into a pan-India audience tracking the Games.
For Bhavina Patel and Shubham Wadhwa, the bronze is more than a medal — it is a data point in India's growing argument that para athletes deserve the same spotlight, the same infrastructure, and the same national pride as any other champion.
Point of View
Who has been Gujarat's most visible para sports ambassador, each medal reinforces the case for sustained state-level investment in para infrastructure. The Mixed Doubles bronze also signals India's broadening depth in para table tennis — results are no longer driven by one individual alone. Sustained political visibility for these athletes matters: it translates, over time, into funding decisions, coaching support, and the pipeline of young para athletes who see themselves in the winners.
NationPress
22 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What medal did Bhavina Patel win at the Asian Para Games 2026?
Bhavina Patel and her partner Shubham Wadhwa won a bronze medal in the Mixed Doubles Class XD7 event at the Asian Para Games 2026 .
Who is Bhavina Patel?
Bhavina Patel is a Gujarat-based Indian para table tennis player who has represented India at the Paralympic Games and multiple international para sports events, becoming one of India's most recognised para athletes.
What is the Asian Para Games?
The Asian Para Games is a continental multi-sport event for para athletes held every four years under the Asian Paralympic Committee , making it the premier para sports competition in Asia.
Who is Shubham Wadhwa?
Shubham Wadhwa is an Indian para table tennis player who partnered with Bhavina Patel in the Mixed Doubles Class XD7 category at the Asian Para Games 2026 , where the pair won bronze.
Why did Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel congratulate Bhavina Patel?
Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel congratulated Bhavina Patel because she hails from Gujarat and won a bronze medal representing India at the Asian Para Games 2026 , reflecting the state's pride in her international achievements.
