CM Samrat Choudhary hails India's two Para Games silver medallists
Synopsis
Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary congratulated swimmer Ravi Kartik Budigina and sprinter Akira Nandan Banothu on winning silver medals at the Asian Para Games 2026, calling their achievements a source of national pride.
Key Takeaways
Ravi Kartik Budigina won silver in the men's 100-metre backstroke S13 event at the Asian Para Games 2026 .
Akira Nandan Banothu won silver in the men's 400-metre T35/T38 event, clocking 51.25 seconds and scoring 948 points .
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary congratulated both athletes on 21 October 2026 via X.
The S13 classification covers para-swimmers with visual impairments; T35/T38 covers track athletes with coordination impairments.
The Asian Para Games is held every four years and is organised by the Asian Paralympic Committee.
CM Choudhary said both achievements 'elevated the pride of the nation' and reflected the talent of Indian sportspersons.
Two Indian para-athletes brought home silver from the Asian Para Games 2026, and Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary was quick to make sure the country noticed. On Wednesday, 21 October 2026, CM Choudhary took to X to congratulate swimmer Ravi Kartik Budigina and sprinter Akira Nandan Banothu on their podium finishes — performances he said had 'elevated the pride of the nation.'
Posting with the hashtags #Cheer4Bharat and #AsianParaGames2026, CM Choudhary highlighted the specific numbers behind each feat. Ravi Kartik Budigina claimed silver in the men's 100-metre backstroke S13 swimming event, competing in a category designed for athletes with visual impairments. Akira Nandan Banothu earned his medal in the men's 400-metre T35/T38 track event, clocking a time of 51.25 seconds and accumulating 948 points — a score that underlines just how tight para-athletics scoring can be at the continental level.
What the S13 and T35/T38 classifications mean
Para-sports classifications are not bureaucratic labels — they are the architecture of fair competition. The S13 swimming class covers athletes with visual impairments who retain some residual sight, demanding both physical power and a finely calibrated spatial awareness in the water. The T35/T38 track classes cover athletes with coordination impairments, including those arising from conditions such as cerebral palsy — where balance, rhythm, and muscle control become as much a part of the race as raw speed.
Budigina's backstroke silver and Banothu's 51.25-second quarter-mile are not incidental numbers. They represent the margin between a continental medal and missing the podium altogether — and in para-athletics, those margins are routinely razor-thin.
India's para-sports momentum on the continental stage
The Asian Para Games, organised by the Asian Paralympic Committee, are held every four years alongside the Asian Games cycle, giving para-athletes their highest-profile regional stage outside the Paralympic Games themselves. India has steadily grown its footprint at the event, with political visibility — leaders congratulating athletes publicly — tracking that rise almost in step.
CM Choudhary's post fits a well-established pattern: senior elected officials amplifying para-sports results in real time, signalling that disability sport is no longer treated as a footnote to mainstream athletics. The Chief Minister described both athletes as showcasing 'the talent of Indian sportspersons' and said the entire country shares in the joy of their success.
For Budigina and Banothu, the applause from Patna adds a layer of official recognition to what was already a remarkable night on the continental circuit. India's full medal tally from the Asian Para Games 2026 is still being compiled — but two more silvers are now on the board.
Point of View
Aligning personal brand with national pride in disability sport. The explicit mention of classification categories and precise timing — 51.25 seconds, 948 points — signals an effort to go beyond ceremonial optics and engage substantively with the athletes' actual performance. As India's para-sports profile grows on the Asian circuit, such political endorsements also serve to normalise disability sport within mainstream public discourse. The continued convergence of state leadership attention and para-athlete success is likely to strengthen institutional support for the ecosystem going forward.
NationPress
22 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Ravi Kartik Budigina?
Ravi Kartik Budigina is an Indian para-swimmer competing in the S13 category, which is for athletes with visual impairments. He won a silver medal in the men's 100-metre backstroke S13 event at the Asian Para Games 2026.
Who is Akira Nandan Banothu?
Akira Nandan Banothu is an Indian para-athlete competing in the T35/T38 track category, covering athletes with coordination impairments. He won silver in the men's 400-metre event at the Asian Para Games 2026 with a time of 51.25 seconds and 948 points.
What is the Asian Para Games 2026?
The Asian Para Games is a multi-sport event for para-athletes organised by the Asian Paralympic Committee. It is held every four years and is the premier continental para-sports competition in Asia.
What does the S13 swimming classification mean?
S13 is a para-swimming classification for athletes with visual impairments who retain some residual sight. Athletes in this class compete in open-water and pool events with adaptations suited to their level of vision.
Why did Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary congratulate these athletes?
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary posted on X on 21 October 2026 to publicly recognise the two Indian para-athletes' silver medal wins at the Asian Para Games 2026, calling their performances a source of national pride.
