CM Saini Congratulates Indian Para Athletes on Asian Para Games 2026 Medals
Synopsis
Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini praised four Indian para athletes — Ayush Verma (gold, shot put F53), Sheetal Devi and Payal Nag (silver, compound archery doubles), and Anubhav Chaudhary and Rakesh Bhaibhatt (bronze, 100m T35) — for their medals at Asian Para Games 2026.
Key Takeaways
Ayush Verma won gold in men's shot put F53 at the Asian Para Games 2026 .
Sheetal Devi and Payal Nag claimed silver in women's compound archery doubles .
Anubhav Chaudhary (T35) and Rakesh Bhaibhatt won bronze in the men's 100 metres .
Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini publicly congratulated all five athletes on 21 October 2026 .
The medals span three disciplines — field, archery, and track — reflecting India's broadening para sports depth.
Haryana remains a leading state in para and mainstream sports development backed by government support schemes.
Four Indian para athletes carried the tricolour higher at the Asian Para Games 2026 — and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini was among the first to recognise their achievement, posting a warm public tribute on Wednesday, 21 October 2026.
Saini extended congratulations to Ayush Verma for winning the gold medal in men's shot put F53, to Sheetal Devi and Payal Nag for the silver medal in women's compound archery doubles, and to Anubhav Chaudhary (T35) and Rakesh Bhaibhatt for the bronze medal in the men's 100 metres. In his post, the Chief Minister wrote: 'Aap sabhi ki yeh uplabdhi desh ka gaurav badhane wali hai' — 'This achievement of all of you brings pride to the nation.'
Ayush Verma's Gold and a Podium Sweep Across Disciplines
The haul spans three disciplines — field athletics, archery, and track sprinting — underscoring the breadth of India's para sports pipeline at the continental level. Ayush Verma's gold in shot put F53 represents the top of the podium in a classification for athletes with significant upper-limb or trunk impairment, a technically demanding event where precision and controlled explosive power determine the result. Sheetal Devi, already one of India's most recognised para archers, combined with Payal Nag in the compound doubles to claim silver — a partnership result that adds a team dimension to her individual profile. Anubhav Chaudhary and Rakesh Bhaibhatt shared the bronze in the T35 sprint, a classification for athletes with coordination impairments such as hypertonia or ataxia.
Haryana's Para Sports Investment and the Broader National Push
Chief Ministers issuing post-event congratulations is standard political practice — but in Haryana's case it lands with extra weight. The state has consistently been among India's highest-performing at both the Olympics and the Paralympic Games, with a sports culture backed by government cash prizes, government jobs, and dedicated infrastructure. That tradition extends to para athletes, and public recognition from the Chief Minister signals continued political will to sustain it.
India's para sports trajectory has been rising steadily since the early 2010s, with each successive edition of the Asian Para Games marking new benchmarks in athlete depth and classification diversity. Medals across track, field, and precision sports in a single day reflect that institutional investment finally converting into multi-discipline returns.
Whether Saini's congratulations are followed by formal state-level honours — cash awards, government positions, or inclusion in Haryana's sports policy schemes — will be the next signal to watch. India's best para athletes have historically parlayed Asian Para Games podiums into tangible government recognition. The podium is set. The next move belongs to the policymakers.
Point of View
Signalling continued political capital behind the sector. For para sports specifically, such visibility matters — it keeps the funding conversation alive and pressures the state machinery to follow words with formal awards. The three-discipline medal spread also points to a maturing para sports ecosystem rather than isolated individual brilliance, which is the harder and more meaningful achievement. The real test is whether this congratulatory post translates into policy action before the next Paralympic cycle.
NationPress
21 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Ayush Verma and what medal did he win at Asian Para Games 2026?
Ayush Verma won the gold medal in men's shot put F53 at the Asian Para Games 2026 . The F53 classification covers athletes who compete from a seated position with significant upper-limb or trunk impairment.
What is Sheetal Devi's medal at Asian Para Games 2026?
Sheetal Devi , partnering with Payal Nag , won the silver medal in women's compound archery doubles at the Asian Para Games 2026 .
Who are Anubhav Chaudhary and Rakesh Bhaibhatt?
Anubhav Chaudhary and Rakesh Bhaibhatt are Indian para sprinters who won the bronze medal in the men's 100 metres T35 event at the Asian Para Games 2026 . The T35 classification includes athletes with coordination impairments.
What did Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini say about the Asian Para Games 2026 medals?
Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini posted a public congratulatory message calling the athletes' achievements a source of national pride — 'desh ka gaurav badhane wali' — and extended best wishes to all five medal winners.
When are the Asian Para Games held?
The Asian Para Games is a quadrennial multi-sport event for athletes with disabilities, organised by the Asian Paralympic Committee . The 2026 edition is the most recent installment of the continental para-sport championship.
