CM Samrat Choudhary Hails India's Bronze in Sepaktakraw at Asian Games 2026
Synopsis
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary congratulated India's men's sepaktakraw quadrant team on winning a bronze medal at the Asian Games 2026, calling their determination an inspiration for young athletes across the country.
Key Takeaways
India's men's sepaktakraw quadrant team won a bronze medal at the Asian Games 2026 .
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary posted a public tribute on October 2, 2026 .
CM Choudhary praised the players' 'outstanding game and firm determination' for making the nation proud.
He expressed hope the achievement would inspire young Indian athletes to dream bigger.
Sepaktakraw is a Southeast Asian-origin sport, making an Indian podium finish a significant result.
India's medal tally at the Asian Games 2026 grew richer on Friday, October 2, as the men's quadrant team in sepaktakraw clinched a bronze medal — and Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary was among the first to salute the achievement with a warm public tribute.
Posting in Hindi on X, CM Choudhary wrote: 'सेपकटकरा की पुरुष क्वाड्रेंट टीम स्पर्धा में कांस्य पदक जीतने वाले भारतीय खिलाड़ियों को हार्दिक बधाई' — 'Heartfelt congratulations to the Indian players who won the bronze medal in the men's quadrant event of sepaktakraw.' He added that the players' 'outstanding game and firm determination' had made the nation proud, and expressed hope that the feat would inspire young athletes across India to 'work hard and dream of new heights.'
Sepaktakraw — India's Unlikely Podium Sport
Sepaktakraw — a sport that blends volleyball, football, and gymnastics, played by kicking a rattan ball over a net — has long been dominated by Southeast Asian nations such as Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia. An Indian bronze in the quadrant format is a notable result and signals the country's growing competitive depth in a discipline that rarely draws mainstream attention. The quadrant event involves teams of four players competing on a larger court, demanding exceptional coordination and athleticism.
India's Asian Games 2026 Campaign
The Asian Games 2026, held in 2026, have seen India field a broad squad across traditional and emerging disciplines. Sepaktakraw has historically been a stretch goal for Indian teams, making a podium finish in the quadrant event a genuine marker of progress. Victories in such non-conventional sports carry outsized importance — they signal that Indian sports infrastructure and coaching are reaching beyond cricket and track-and-field.
CM Choudhary closed his post with the hashtag #Cheers4Bharat, the campaign rallying cry used by Indian sports fans during the Games — a small but visible gesture of solidarity from a senior political figure toward athletes competing far from home.
A bronze in sepaktakraw won't dominate the headline count — but for the four players who earned it, and for the coaches who built an Indian programme in a sport rooted in another continent, today's result is everything.
Point of View
But the underlying sporting achievement is substantive. The real question is whether this bronze triggers sustained institutional investment in sepaktakraw or fades as a one-cycle highlight.
NationPress
2 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is sepaktakraw?
Sepaktakraw is a sport originating in Southeast Asia in which players use their feet, knees, chest, and head to kick a rattan ball over a net — combining elements of volleyball, football, and gymnastics. It is a recognised Asian Games discipline.
What did India win in sepaktakraw at the Asian Games 2026?
India's men's quadrant team won a bronze medal in sepaktakraw at the Asian Games 2026, marking a notable podium finish for the country in the discipline.
Who is Samrat Choudhary?
Samrat Choudhary is the Chief Minister of Bihar and a senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
What is the men's quadrant event in sepaktakraw?
The quadrant event in sepaktakraw involves four players competing simultaneously on a larger court, requiring high coordination and athleticism across the team.
What is #Cheers4Bharat?
#Cheers4Bharat is a social media campaign hashtag used by Indian sports fans and public figures to rally support for Indian athletes competing at major international events such as the Asian Games.
