CM Samrat Choudhary Hails Soumya, Radha on Asian Para Games Gold and Silver
Synopsis
Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary has congratulated Soumya Kumar and Radha Venkatesh for winning gold and silver respectively in the women's 1500m T12/13 event at the Asian Para Games 2026, calling the achievement a reflection of Indian para athletics' talent and strength.
Key Takeaways
Soumya Kumar won gold and Radha Venkatesh won silver in the women's 1500m T12/13 event at Asian Para Games 2026 , giving India a 1-2 sweep.
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary publicly congratulated both athletes on 19 October 2026 .
The T12/13 classification covers athletes with significant visual impairment, making the podium sweep especially notable.
At the previous edition, 2023 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou , India won a record 111 medals including 29 gold .
Political leaders across India routinely amplify para-sport achievements, contributing to the athletes' visibility and potential state-level incentives.
Two Indian para athletes turned the track into a statement at the Asian Para Games 2026 — Soumya Kumar winning gold and Radha Venkatesh claiming silver in the women's 1500 metres T12/13 event, prompting Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary to salute both on Monday, 19 October 2026.
Posting on X, CM Choudhary wrote: 'Heartfelt congratulations to Soumya Kumar ji on winning gold and Radha Venkatesh ji on winning silver in the women's 1500 m T12/13 at Asian Para Games 2026. Both of you have won gold and silver for India and raised the country's pride.' He added that the achievement is a testament to the 'talent, hard work and strength of Indian para athletics.'
A 1-2 finish that speaks for itself
A gold-silver sweep in a single track final means India did not merely medal — it dominated. The T12/13 classification covers athletes with significant visual impairment, making the precise execution of a 1500-metre race — pacing, positioning, the final kick — all the more demanding. That both podium places went to Indian women underlines the depth building in para athletics beyond the headline field-event names.
India's para sport trajectory has been sharply upward. At the 2023 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, the country posted its best-ever haul: 111 medals, including 29 gold. Each edition since the 2010s has seen incrementally stronger showings, backed by growing government funding and dedicated training infrastructure.
Why political voices in the stands matter
Senior leaders — central and state — routinely amplify para-sport wins on social media, and that visibility is not merely ceremonial. Public acknowledgement from a sitting Chief Minister keeps athletes in mainstream news cycles, nudges state sports authorities toward incentive announcements, and signals to young para athletes across Bihar — and the country — that the system is watching and cheering. CM Choudhary's post, tagged #AsianParaGames2026 and #Cheer4Bharat, sits in that tradition.
The conversation now shifts to what follows the applause: whether state governments announce cash rewards or job-security guarantees for medallists, and how India's overall tally at the 2026 Asian Para Games shapes up as the competition continues.
Point of View
Each major win raises the stakes for the 2026 haul and puts pressure on state governments to follow words with concrete athlete-welfare commitments. Whether Bihar announces a formal cash incentive for the two athletes will be the real measure of intent behind the applause.
NationPress
20 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won gold in women's 1500m T12/13 at Asian Para Games 2026?
Soumya Kumar won the gold medal in the women's 1500 metres T12/13 event at the Asian Para Games 2026, with Radha Venkatesh taking silver to complete an Indian 1-2 sweep.
What is the T12/13 classification in para athletics?
The T12/13 classification covers track athletes with significant visual impairment. T12 athletes have some residual vision, while T13 athletes have a more moderate visual impairment, and both compete together in certain events.
What did Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary say about the Asian Para Games 2026 medals?
CM Samrat Choudhary congratulated Soumya Kumar and Radha Venkatesh, saying they had raised India's pride and that their achievement is a testament to the talent, hard work, and strength of Indian para athletics.
How many medals did India win at the 2023 Asian Para Games?
India won a record 111 medals at the 2023 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, including 29 gold medals — the country's best-ever performance at the continental para-sport event.
What is the Asian Para Games?
The Asian Para Games is a continental multi-sport event for para athletes held every four years under the Asian Paralympic Council, bringing together nations from across Asia to compete across a wide range of para disciplines.
