CM Himanta Hails India's Para-Athletes at Asian Para Games 2026
Synopsis
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma celebrated India's standout performance at the Asian Para Games 2026, individually naming gold medallists, double-podium finishers and a full podium sweep by Sachin Khilari, Mohd Yasser and Parveen, calling the achievements an inspiration to millions.
Key Takeaways
Gold medallists named by CM Sarma include Ayush Verma , Praveen Kumar , Sachin Khilari , Simran and Dilip Gavit at the Asian Para Games 2026 .
Sachin Khilari , Mohd Yasser and Parveen completed a full podium sweep, securing all three medals in their event.
Praveen Kumar and Banti, Dilip Gavit and Mohammad Basil M, and Sheetal Devi and Payal Nag each claimed double podium finishes.
Over 20 athletes were individually named in the tribute, signalling a shift in how Indian political leaders recognise para-sport achievements.
The Khelo India scheme, launched in 2017 , has provided structured training pathways that underpin India's growing para-sport talent pool.
Future watch-point: state and central government cash awards and felicitations for the listed athletes.
India's para-athletes delivered a stunning haul at the Asian Para Games 2026, and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma made sure the nation paused to notice — naming each champion by name in a sweeping tribute posted early on Thursday, 22 October 2026.
Gold, doubles and a podium sweep — unpacking the roll of honour
The Chief Minister's post reads like a scorecard of extraordinary range. Ayush Verma, Praveen Kumar, Sachin Khilari, Simran and Dilip Gavit are cited for gold triumphs, planting the tricolour at the top of the podium. Praveen Kumar and Banti, Dilip Gavit and Mohammad Basil M, and Sheetal Devi and Payal Nag are credited with double-podium finishes — two medals apiece, a feat that speaks to sustained excellence across disciplines. The headline act, however, may be Sachin Khilari, Mohd Yasser and Parveen, who together delivered a full podium sweep — all three medals in a single event going to India.
Beyond the podium, Sarma singled out a longer list of performers: Anubhav Choudhary, Rakeshbhai Bhatt, Bhagyashree Jadhav, Kasthuri Rajamani, Manjeet, Preeti Pal, Himanshu Nandal, Pranav Desai, Rohit Kumar, Akira Nandan Banothu, Sharath Makanahalli, Ravi Kartik Budigina, Haney, Shailesh Kumar, Karamjyoti, Sukhchain and Ravi Rongali. The decision to name every athlete individually — not hide them behind a collective 'team India' — is itself a deliberate act of recognition.
Para-sport's rising political profile in India
Sarma's tribute follows a now-established pattern: after every major multi-sport event, national leaders publicly acknowledge para-athlete performances with the same register once reserved for Olympic and Commonwealth medallists. That shift has been years in the making. The central government's Khelo India scheme, launched in 2017, explicitly extended structured training and competition pathways to para-athletes, helping build the talent pipeline that fields squads like this one. Successive editions of the Asian Para Games and the Paralympics have seen India's participation — and medal returns — grow steadily.
As BJP's convenor of the North-East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), Sarma occupies a platform that stretches well beyond Assam, and his high-visibility endorsement amplifies the signal nationally. The congratulatory post, tagged #Cheer4Bharat, is addressed not just to fans but implicitly to the institutions — coaches, federations, state academies — that stand behind each name on that list.
What comes next for the champions
The immediate watch-point is whether state and central governments translate this political goodwill into concrete rewards. Cash awards, state felicitations and service guarantees have historically followed landmark para-sport performances, and with more than two dozen athletes named in a single official tribute, pressure on governments to act is real. For the athletes themselves, the Asian Para Games cycle feeds directly into Paralympic qualifying windows — meaning today's medals are also tomorrow's credentials.
Point of View
Reinforced by the Khelo India architecture that funds para-athletes at the grassroots. For Sarma specifically, whose NEDA platform spans the Northeast, championing national para-sport heroes broadens his appeal beyond regional politics. The real test now is whether the rhetorical warmth converts into the cash awards and institutional support that sustain these athletes beyond a single Games cycle.
NationPress
22 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Indian athletes won gold at the Asian Para Games 2026?
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's post credits Ayush Verma, Praveen Kumar, Sachin Khilari, Simran and Dilip Gavit with gold triumphs at the Asian Para Games 2026.
Who achieved a podium sweep at the Asian Para Games 2026?
Sachin Khilari, Mohd Yasser and Parveen delivered a full podium sweep, taking all three medals in their event at the Asian Para Games 2026, according to CM Sarma's tribute post.
What is the Asian Para Games?
The Asian Para Games is a quadrennial multi-sport event for athletes with disabilities organised by the Asian Paralympic Committee, held across Asia.
How does the Khelo India scheme support para-athletes?
Launched in 2017, the Khelo India scheme provides structured training, competition pathways and financial support to para-athletes alongside mainstream sportspersons, helping build India's para-sport talent pipeline.
Why did CM Himanta Biswa Sarma post about the Asian Para Games?
As Assam Chief Minister and a prominent BJP leader, Sarma routinely acknowledges major national sporting achievements; the Asian Para Games 2026 post named more than 20 athletes individually to highlight the breadth of India's performance.
