CM Majhi Hails Pramod Bhagat and Manisha Ramadass on Asian Para Games Bronze
Synopsis
Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi congratulated para-badminton stars Pramod Bhagat and Manisha Ramadass for winning the Mixed Doubles SL3-SU5 bronze medal at the Asian Para Games 2026, calling the achievement a testament to perseverance and sporting excellence.
Key Takeaways
Pramod Bhagat and Manisha Ramadass won the Mixed Doubles SL3-SU5 bronze at the Asian Para Games 2026 .
Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi publicly congratulated both athletes on 22 October 2026 .
Pramod Bhagat , from Odisha, is a multiple-time world champion and Paralympic medalist in the SL3 para-badminton category.
Manisha Ramadass competes in the SU5 category and is known for her mixed doubles international performances.
The Asian Para Games is a quadrennial event organised by the Asian Paralympic Committee for athletes with disabilities.
The result adds to India's growing para-badminton medal haul, with the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics as the next major target.
A bronze medal in Mixed Doubles SL3-SU5 badminton at the Asian Para Games 2026 — and Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi was quick to celebrate it. Pramod Bhagat and Manisha Ramadass secured the podium finish on Thursday, October 22, 2026, earning a congratulatory post from the Chief Minister who called their feat 'a testament to perseverance and sporting excellence.'
Bhagat and Ramadass claim Mixed Doubles bronze
Pramod Bhagat, the Odisha-born para-badminton star and multiple-time world champion in the SL3 category, partnered with Manisha Ramadass, who competes in the SU5 category, to clinch the mixed doubles medal. Bhagat has long been the face of Indian para-badminton — his SL3 classification covers athletes with lower-limb impairment who play on a full court — while Ramadass has built a growing reputation on the international mixed doubles circuit.
The Mixed Doubles SL3-SU5 event pairs athletes from two distinct para-badminton categories, demanding a rare combination of court coverage and shuttle control. A bronze at the Asian Para Games, the continent's premier multi-sport event for athletes with disabilities organised by the Asian Paralympic Committee, is a significant benchmark on the road to global qualification cycles.
Odisha's para-sport pipeline behind the medal
Odisha has quietly become one of India's most consistent producers of para-athletes across badminton and other disciplines. The state has integrated para-athlete programmes into its broader sports policy, extending coaching support and international exposure alongside its well-publicised investments in able-bodied sport. Bhagat himself is among the most decorated products of that environment, having won Paralympic gold and multiple world championship titles before this Asian Para Games campaign.
India's broader rise in para-badminton mirrors a national shift since the 2010s: structured coaching academies, better equipment access, and a higher volume of international competition have pushed the country's medal tally upward at both Asian and global events. The Asian Para Games bronze adds to that accumulating record.
What the podium means looking ahead
For Bhagat and Ramadass, the medal arrives at a strategically important moment. The 2028 Paralympics in Los Angeles will be the next landmark on every para-athlete's calendar, and strong Asian Para Games performances traditionally carry weight in world rankings that feed into Paralympic qualification. CM Majhi's public acknowledgement also signals continued state-level attention to para-sport infrastructure — a support system that athletes in this discipline depend on.
Para-badminton rarely commands the prime-time spotlight it deserves. Today, at least, Odisha's Chief Minister made sure it did.
Point of View
Championing para-athletes extends the state's high-profile sports diplomacy — most visibly seen in its hockey and football sponsorships — into a less glamorous but symbolically powerful arena. The timing also matters: with the 2028 Paralympics qualification cycle beginning in earnest, state-level visibility for para-athletes can translate into tangible policy support, funding, and infrastructure investment. Odisha's consistent para-badminton output suggests that pipeline is already producing results.
NationPress
22 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are Pramod Bhagat and Manisha Ramadass?
Pramod Bhagat is an Odisha-born para-badminton player and multiple-time world champion in the SL3 category, which covers athletes with lower-limb impairment playing on a full court. Manisha Ramadass is an Indian para-badminton player competing in the SU5 category, recognised for her mixed doubles performances on the international circuit.
What is the Asian Para Games?
The Asian Para Games is a quadrennial multi-sport event for Asian athletes with disabilities, organised by the Asian Paralympic Committee . It is one of the most prestigious para-sport competitions on the continent and serves as a key stepping stone toward global events including the Paralympics.
What is the SL3-SU5 mixed doubles event in para badminton?
The SL3-SU5 Mixed Doubles event pairs one athlete from the SL3 classification — players with lower-limb impairment who play on a full court — with one from the SU5 classification, which covers upper-limb impairment. The combination demands distinct playing styles and strong court coordination between partners.
What has Pramod Bhagat won before the Asian Para Games 2026?
Pramod Bhagat has won multiple para-badminton World Championship titles and a Paralympic gold medal , making him one of the most decorated para-badminton players in Indian sporting history ahead of the Asian Para Games 2026.
Why is Odisha significant in Indian para sports?
Odisha has systematically integrated para-athletes into its state sports policy alongside able-bodied programmes, providing coaching, equipment access, and international exposure. The state has consistently produced para-badminton and other para-sport talent, making it one of India's leading states in this discipline.
