CM Samrat Choudhary hails India's double medal win at Asian Para Games 2026
Synopsis
Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary congratulated para-athletes Pradeep Kumar and Ayush Verma on winning silver and bronze respectively in men's javelin throw F53/F54 at the Asian Para Games 2026, calling their achievement a matter of national pride.
Key Takeaways
Pradeep Kumar won the silver medal in men's javelin throw F53/F54 at Asian Para Games 2026.
Ayush Verma claimed the bronze medal in the same event, giving India a double podium finish.
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary extended congratulations to both athletes via X on 20 October 2026 .
The F53/F54 category covers seated field athletes competing from a fixed throwing frame.
The result reflects India's growing depth in para-athletics at the Asian level.
Two Indian para-athletes brought home medals from the men's javelin throw F53/F54 category at the Asian Para Games 2026, and Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary was among the first to put the achievement on record — congratulating both winners in a post on X on Tuesday, 20 October 2026.
Silver for Pradeep Kumar, bronze for Ayush Verma
Pradeep Kumar claimed the silver medal in the event, while Ayush Verma secured the bronze — giving India a rare double podium finish in a single para-athletics discipline on an Asian stage. CM Choudhary wrote, 'दोनों खिलाड़ियों ने अपने शानदार प्रदर्शन से अंतरराष्ट्रीय मंच पर भारत का गौरव बढ़ाया है' ('Both athletes have enhanced India's pride on the international stage with their outstanding performance').
F53/F54: the category behind the medals
The F53 and F54 classifications cover seated field athletes — typically competitors with spinal cord injuries or similar conditions affecting the lower body — who throw from a fixed throwing frame. The combined category is fiercely competitive across Asia, making a silver-and-bronze sweep by two Indian athletes a significant result for the country's para-sports programme.
India's para-athletics momentum
India's participation in the Asian Para Games has grown with each edition, backed by expanding government recognition and better institutional support for athletes with disabilities. A double podium in a single throwing event signals that the depth of Indian para-athletics — not just individual excellence — is catching up with the country's broader sporting ambitions. With more events still to conclude at the 2026 Games, the Indian contingent's medal tally remains a live and closely watched number.
Point of View
Where official visibility has become a political signal of inclusive nationalism. The double podium in a single discipline is more than a feel-good moment; it suggests that India's para-athletics pipeline is producing competitive depth, not just individual outliers. For the broader para-sports ecosystem, such high-profile acknowledgments from state executives translate into media coverage and, over time, institutional funding pressure. The question now is whether these Games-time salutes convert into sustained athlete-support infrastructure after the medals are counted.
NationPress
20 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Pradeep Kumar in Asian Para Games 2026?
Pradeep Kumar is an Indian para-athlete who won the silver medal in men's javelin throw F53/F54 at the Asian Para Games 2026, earning congratulations from Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary.
What medal did Ayush Verma win at Asian Para Games 2026?
Ayush Verma won the bronze medal in men's javelin throw F53/F54 at the Asian Para Games 2026.
What is the F53/F54 classification in para athletics?
The F53/F54 classifications cover seated field athletes — usually those with spinal cord injuries affecting the lower body — who compete in throwing events from a fixed frame.
What did Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary say about the Asian Para Games medals?
CM Samrat Choudhary posted on X on 20 October 2026 congratulating both athletes, saying they had 'enhanced India's pride on the international stage' and calling their achievement 'a matter of national pride.'
When are the Asian Para Games 2026 being held?
The Asian Para Games 2026 are currently ongoing as of October 2026 , with India actively competing across multiple disciplines including para-athletics.
