CM Saini congratulates Preeti Pal, Himanshu Nandal on Asian Para Games 2026 medals
Synopsis
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini congratulated para athletes Preeti Pal and Himanshu Nandal on winning silver and bronze respectively at the Asian Para Games 2026, calling their achievements a testament to talent, dedication, and resolve.
Key Takeaways
Preeti Pal won the silver medal in the women's 200 metre T35 event at the Asian Para Games 2026 .
Himanshu Nandal of Haryana claimed the bronze medal in the men's 100 metre freestyle S11 swimming event.
Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini publicly congratulated both athletes on 20 October 2026 via X.
The S11 classification is for athletes with no or minimal light perception — among the most demanding in para swimming.
Haryana has a strong track record in Indian sport and CM Saini's recognition reflects continued state-level support for para athletes.
Two Indian para athletes stepped onto the podium at the Asian Para Games 2026, and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini was quick to mark the moment — saluting Preeti Pal's silver in the women's 200 metre T35 event and Himanshu Nandal's bronze in the men's 100 metre freestyle S11 swimming category on Tuesday, 20 October 2026.
Posting on X with the hashtags #AsianParaGames2026 and #Cheer4Bharat, CM Saini wrote: 'Heartiest congratulations and best wishes to Preeti Pal for winning the silver medal in the women's 200 m T35 event and to Haryana's Himanshu Nandal for clinching the bronze medal in the men's 100 m freestyle S11 event. This remarkable achievement of both of you is a testament to your talent, dedication, and resolve. Your success has made the country proud.'
Preeti Pal's silver in the T35 sprint
Preeti Pal competes in the T35 classification, which covers athletes with co-ordination impairments such as hypertonia, ataxia, or athetosis. A silver medal in the 200 metre sprint at a continental para-sports showpiece is a significant marker of class — T35 sprinting demands explosive speed despite the added complexity of managing muscle co-ordination under race conditions. Her performance adds to a growing body of evidence that Indian women's para athletics is no longer merely participating on the Asian stage; it is contending for the top step.
Himanshu Nandal's bronze in the S11 pool
Himanshu Nandal, hailing from Haryana, earned his bronze in the S11 category — the most visually challenging classification in para swimming, reserved for athletes with no or minimal light perception who navigate the pool entirely without sight. The 100 metre freestyle in S11 is a test of both raw conditioning and the discipline to maintain stroke efficiency without visual reference. For a Haryanvi swimmer to reach an Asian podium in this category underlines the depth of sporting talent that the state continues to produce.
Haryana's stake in India's para-sports rise
Haryana has long punched above its weight in Indian sport, from wrestling mats to the Olympic track. The state government has consistently invested in sports infrastructure and athlete welfare, and CM Saini's public acknowledgement — naming both athletes individually and citing their 'talent, dedication, and resolve' — signals continued political will to back that pipeline. India's broader para-sports movement has gathered momentum through successive international cycles, and individual state champions like Nandal serve as the grassroots proof of that national ambition. Every medal won on a continental stage feeds back into that ecosystem, inspiring the next generation to take the pool, the track, and the podium seriously.
Two podiums. Two stories of extraordinary will. The scoreboard at the Asian Para Games 2026 is still running — and India is watching closely.
Point of View
The expectation on states with strong athletic pipelines — like Haryana — to deliver medals, and on their leaders to celebrate them, will only intensify.
NationPress
21 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Preeti Pal and what medal did she win at the Asian Para Games 2026?
Preeti Pal is an Indian para athlete who competes in the T35 classification. She won the silver medal in the women's 200 metre T35 sprint event at the Asian Para Games 2026.
Who is Himanshu Nandal and which event did he win a medal in?
Himanshu Nandal is a para swimmer from Haryana who competes in the S11 classification, reserved for athletes with no or minimal light perception. He won the bronze medal in the men's 100 metre freestyle S11 event at the Asian Para Games 2026.
What is the T35 classification in para athletics?
The T35 classification covers para athletes with co-ordination impairments such as hypertonia, ataxia, or athetosis. These athletes compete in track events including sprints like the 200 metres.
What did Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini say about the medals?
CM Saini called the achievements a testament to the athletes' talent, dedication, and resolve, and said their success has made the country proud, posting his congratulations on X on 20 October 2026.
Where are the Asian Para Games 2026 being held?
The Asian Para Games 2026 is a multi-sport event for para athletes held in Asia. The specific host city has not been confirmed in the available information.
