CM Samrat Choudhary felicitates Bobby Kumar for Asian Games bronze
Synopsis
Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary personally welcomed sepaktakraw player Bobby Kumar at Lok Sevak Avas in Patna on 6 October 2026, after Kumar won the bronze medal in the men's quadrant event at Asian Games 2026, calling it a moment of pride for Bihar and India.
Key Takeaways
Bobby Kumar of Bihar won the bronze medal in the men's quadrant sepaktakraw event at Asian Games 2026 .
Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary felicitated Bobby Kumar in person at the official Lok Sevak Avas residence in Patna.
The CM described the achievement as a matter of pride for Bihar and the entire country .
Sepaktakraw is a Southeast Asian rattan-ball sport that blends volleyball and football techniques; the Asian Games is its premier continental platform.
The formal felicitation signals the Bihar government's active interest in recognising athletes from non-mainstream sports disciplines.
A bronze medal in sepaktakraw at the Asian Games 2026 — and Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary made sure the achievement did not go uncelebrated. On Tuesday, 6 October 2026, CM Choudhary welcomed Bobby Kumar, the Bihar-born sepaktakraw player who helped India clinch the bronze in the men's quadrant event, at the official Lok Sevak Avas residence in Patna — a warm, formal recognition of a feat the Chief Minister described as a matter of pride for both the state and the nation.
Posting on X with the tricolour and a bronze-medal emoji, CM Choudhary wrote: 'Asian Games 2026 mein sepaktakraw ki mens quadrant spardhaa mein kaansya padak jeetkar itihas rachne waale Bihar ke laal, Shri Bobby Kumar ji ka Lok Sevak Awaas mein haardik swaagat-abhinandan kiya.' — 'I warmly welcomed Bobby Kumar, son of Bihar, who made history by winning the bronze medal in the men's quadrant sepaktakraw event at Asian Games 2026, at Lok Sevak Avas.' The Chief Minister added that Bobby had 'raised the honour of Bihar and the entire country' and extended wishes for a bright future.
Sepaktakraw's rare spotlight — and what Bobby Kumar's medal means
Sepaktakraw — a Southeast Asian sport that blends volleyball, football, and acrobatics — is played with a rattan ball over a badminton-style net, with players using their feet, knees, chest, and head. The men's quadrant event features teams of four, and bronze at the Asian Games is the highest stage the sport commands on the continental calendar. For an Indian athlete from Bihar to reach that podium signals a quietly expanding footprint of the sport in a state more commonly associated with kabaddi and cricket.
The felicitation at Lok Sevak Avas — the Chief Minister's official residence-cum-working address — gives the recognition a formal, institutional weight. It signals the Bihar government's intent to spotlight sporting achievements beyond mainstream disciplines, sending a message to young athletes across the state that the administration is watching.
Bihar's sporting recognition under Samrat Choudhary
CM Choudhary has consistently used public felicitation events to amplify the stories of athletes who might otherwise remain in the margins of a national sports conversation dominated by cricket and a handful of Olympic disciplines. Welcoming Bobby Kumar in person — with the hashtag #AsianGames2026 amplifying reach on social media — positions Bihar's government as an active stakeholder in its athletes' journeys, not merely a passive bystander.
For Bobby Kumar, the moment is both a homecoming and a launchpad. An Asian Games bronze is recognised by the Indian sports system for the purpose of government jobs and incentives — giving the athlete tangible career security alongside the medal. Bihar now has a sepaktakraw story worth telling.
Point of View
Where sports infrastructure has historically lagged behind larger states, visible chief-ministerial endorsement can shift both public perception and young athletes' aspirations. The move also fits a broader BJP-governed-states pattern of framing athletic success as proof of development governance — connecting a medal to the administration's larger narrative of a resurgent Bihar.
NationPress
6 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Bobby Kumar and what did he win at Asian Games 2026?
Bobby Kumar is a sepaktakraw player from Bihar who won the bronze medal in the men's quadrant event at the Asian Games 2026 , becoming one of India's standout performers in the sport at the continental level.
What is sepaktakraw and why is an Asian Games medal significant?
Sepaktakraw is a Southeast Asian sport played with a rattan ball over a net, where players use their feet, knees, chest, and head — blending elements of volleyball and acrobatics. The Asian Games is the sport's premier continental competition, making a medal there the highest honour available at the Asian level.
Where did Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary felicitate Bobby Kumar?
CM Samrat Choudhary welcomed Bobby Kumar at the official Lok Sevak Avas residence in Patna on 6 October 2026 .
What did Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary say about Bobby Kumar's achievement?
CM Choudhary said Bobby Kumar had 'raised the honour of Bihar and the entire country' and extended his congratulations along with wishes for a bright future for the athlete.
Does an Asian Games bronze medal come with government benefits for Indian athletes?
Yes. Asian Games medals are recognised by the Indian sports system for government employment schemes and cash incentives under various central and state sports award policies, giving athletes like Bobby Kumar tangible career benefits alongside their podium finish.
