India's para athletes are writing fresh chapters of glory at the Asian Para Games 2026 in Japan — and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini made sure the nation paused to salute them on Thursday, 22 October 2026.

Saini took to X to congratulate a cluster of Indian para athletes who delivered standout performances across multiple disciplines. Suvarna Raj claimed gold in the women's discus throw F54 event, while Swati Chaudhary produced a 'shानदार' (outstanding) display in women's para archery W1. In badminton, two mixed doubles pairs brought home bronze: Pramod Bhagat and Manisha Ramadass in the SL3-SU5 category, and Krishna Nagar and Nithya Sre in the SH6 event.

'Your struggle, dedication and success is a matter of pride for the nation,' Saini wrote, signing off with the hashtag #Cheer4Bharat.

Pramod Bhagat and Krishna Nagar: India's Para-Badminton Pillars

Pramod Bhagat is one of India's most decorated para-badminton players, a multiple international medallist whose career stretches across top global tournaments including the Paralympics. Krishna Nagar shot to national attention with a gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, cementing his status as one of the sport's brightest talents. Both men now feature in the Asian Para Games 2026 bronze haul, this time in mixed doubles partnerships — a sign of the squad's tactical depth.

India's Para Sports Rise — From Jakarta to Japan

India's trajectory in para sports has been climbing steadily. At the 2018 Asian Para Games in Jakarta, Indonesia, the national contingent returned with a meaningful medal tally, and each subsequent edition has raised expectations higher. The 2026 Games in Japan appear to be continuing that upward arc, with medals already arriving across athletics, archery, and badminton within the same competitive window.

For Indian para athletes, recognition from state leadership carries real weight — it signals that their achievements register beyond specialist sports circles and into mainstream public discourse. Saini's post, backed by four images, pushes that visibility further.

What the Medals Mean Beyond the Podium

Each win here represents a category — F54 wheelchair athletes, W1 archers, SL3-SU5 and SH6 badminton players — that demands specialised training, adaptive equipment, and years of perseverance most fans rarely see. Suvarna Raj's gold in discus throw is particularly striking: the F54 classification covers athletes with impaired hand function and full leg impairment, making upper-body power and technique everything. A gold in that field is a genuine feat of athletic excellence.

India's growing bench strength across para disciplines — from a field-event gold to archery presence to multiple badminton podiums in a single tournament cycle — signals that the country's investment in adaptive sports infrastructure is beginning to compound.

The medals keep arriving from Japan. The contingent is not done yet.