CM Saini Hails India's Para Athletes at Asian Para Games 2026
Synopsis
Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini congratulated four Indian para athletes who won medals at the Asian Para Games 2026 in Japan — Sheetal Devi (gold, archery), Kapil Kumar and Tejalben Damor (silver each), and Shubham Wadhwa with Bhavina Patel (bronze, table tennis).
Key Takeaways
Sheetal Devi won the gold medal in para compound archery women's individual event at the Asian Para Games 2026, Japan .
Kapil Kumar claimed a silver medal in men's 400-metre freestyle S10 para swimming.
Tejalben Damor won a silver medal in the women's 400-metre T12 track race.
Shubham Wadhwa and Bhavina Patel secured a bronze medal in para table tennis mixed doubles.
Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini personally named and congratulated each athlete on 22 October 2026 .
India's performance continues a steady upward trajectory at the Asian Para Games, which began in 2010 .
Four Indian para athletes stepped onto the medals podium at the Asian Para Games 2026 in Japan, and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini was among the first to salute their achievement — calling their victories a living proof of 'resolve, capability, and success' that every Indian can be proud of.
Gold, Silver, Bronze — India's medal haul in Japan
Sheetal Devi led the charge with a gold medal in the para compound archery women's individual event — a result that will electrify the Indian para sports community given her reputation as one of the country's most celebrated armless archers. Kapil Kumar added a silver in the men's 400-metre freestyle S10 para swimming event, while Tejalben Damor clinched another silver in the women's 400-metre T12 track race.
The bronze medal in para table tennis mixed doubles went to the pairing of Shubham Wadhwa and Bhavina Patel — with Patel returning to the continental stage after her historic Paralympic silver at Tokyo 2020, the performance that first put Indian para table tennis on the world map. Four medals. Four disciplines. One resounding statement.
Sheetal Devi's gold — a milestone already in the making
Sheetal Devi has drawn international attention for competing without arms, using her feet and shoulders to draw and release the bowstring. Her gold at the 2026 Asian Para Games adds a continental title to a career that has moved from viral inspiration to genuine competitive dominance. CM Saini's post, tagged #Cheer4Bharat and #AsianParaGames2026, specifically named each athlete — a deliberate recognition rather than a collective shout-out.
India's growing footprint in para sports
India's trajectory at the Asian Para Games has been one of steady, compounding growth since the event's debut in 2010. The 2018 Jakarta edition marked a significant step-up in India's medal tally, and the national para sports ecosystem — built on dedicated training centres and international exposure programmes — has kept that curve pointing upward. These 2026 results arrive in a Paralympic cycle where para athlete funding and selection pathways are under active policy review, making each international podium finish a data point for administrators as much as a moment of pride.
India's para athletes are no longer punching above their weight — they are simply punching at the weight their preparation now demands.
Point of View
A space the BJP has increasingly claimed as part of its inclusive-India narrative. The four-medal haul in Japan, spanning archery, swimming, athletics, and table tennis, demonstrates that India's para sports infrastructure is delivering breadth, not just depth in one event. With a fresh Paralympic cycle underway, these results will strengthen the case for sustained government funding and could accelerate the institutionalisation of para athlete support at the state level, where Haryana has historically punched above its weight in mainstream sports policy.
NationPress
22 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Sheetal Devi and what did she win at the Asian Para Games 2026?
Sheetal Devi is an Indian para compound archer known for competing without arms. She won the gold medal in the women's individual para compound archery event at the Asian Para Games 2026 in Japan.
What medal did Bhavina Patel win at the Asian Para Games 2026?
Bhavina Patel , paired with Shubham Wadhwa , won a bronze medal in the para table tennis mixed doubles event at the 2026 Asian Para Games in Japan.
What is the Asian Para Games and where is the 2026 edition held?
The Asian Para Games is a continental multi-sport event for athletes with disabilities held periodically in Asia since 2010 . The 2026 edition is being held in Japan .
Why did Nayab Singh Saini post about the Asian Para Games 2026?
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini posted on X on 22 October 2026 to congratulate Indian para athletes — Sheetal Devi, Kapil Kumar, Tejalben Damor, Shubham Wadhwa, and Bhavina Patel — on their medal wins at the Asian Para Games 2026 in Japan.
What medal did Tejalben Damor win at the Asian Para Games 2026?
Tejalben Damor won a silver medal in the women's 400-metre T12 track race at the Asian Para Games 2026 in Japan.
