CM Samrat Choudhary hails Sheetal, Payal, Bhagyashree for Asian Para Games silver
Synopsis
Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary congratulated Sheetal Devi and Payal Nag for their Para Compound Women's Team archery silver, and Bhagyashree Jadhav for her Women's Shot Put F34 silver, at the Asian Para Games 2026, calling their feat an inspiration for India's daughters.
Key Takeaways
Sheetal Devi and Payal Nag won silver in the Para Compound Women's Team archery event at the Asian Para Games 2026 .
Bhagyashree Jadhav claimed silver in the Women's Shot Put F34 category at the same Games.
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary publicly congratulated all three athletes on 21 October 2026 .
CM Choudhary framed the medals as an inspiration for Indian women who aspire to overcome life's challenges through determination.
The Asian Para Games, held every four years under the Asian Paralympic Committee , are a key stepping stone on the road to the Paralympics.
India has been among the top medal-winning nations at successive Asian Para Games editions, including the 2023 Games in Hangzhou .
Three Indian women athletes stepped onto the podium at the Asian Para Games 2026, and Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary was among the first political voices to salute them — calling their achievement an inspiration for every daughter in India who dares to dream.
In a post on Wednesday, 21 October 2026, CM Choudhary extended warm congratulations to Sheetal Devi, Payal Nag, and Bhagyashree Jadhav for winning silver medals at the continental para-sport showcase. Sheetal and Payal claimed silver in the Para Compound Women's Team archery event, while Bhagyashree powered to the podium in the Women's Shot Put F34 category.
Sheetal and Payal's compound bow partnership
Sheetal Devi is among India's most recognisable para-archers — a teenage prodigy from Jammu and Kashmir who shoots without arms and has already drawn global attention for her technique and competitive nerve. Pairing with Payal Nag in the compound women's team event, the duo brought a silver home at what is one of Asia's premier para-sport competitions. The Asian Para Games, held every four years under the Asian Paralympic Committee, serve as a critical qualifying and confidence-building stage on the road to the Paralympics.
Bhagyashree Jadhav's shot put silver in F34
Bhagyashree Jadhav's Women's Shot Put F34 silver adds to a growing roster of Indian para-athletes making their mark in field events. The F34 classification covers seated athletes who compete from a throwing chair, demanding explosive upper-body strength and precision. Her medal signals India's broadening depth across para disciplines — not just in archery or track, but in throws as well.
Why political recognition of para sports matters
CM Choudhary's message went beyond routine congratulations. He wrote — 'Aapki yeh uplabdhi desh ki un betiyon ko prerna degi' (Your achievement will inspire those daughters of the country) — who have the courage to realise their dreams and overcome every challenge life places before them. That framing, linking para-athletic success to a broader message of determination for women, reflects a deliberate national narrative that state and central leaders have championed across successive Asian Para Games cycles. India fielded a large contingent at the 2023 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou and finished among the top medal-winning nations; the 2026 edition continues that upward arc.
Three silver medals, three stories of resilience — and a Chief Minister reminding an entire country that 'with firm resolve and self-belief, every goal is within reach.'
Point of View
Beti Padhao' messaging architecture. The explicit linkage between sporting achievement and women's resilience signals that para sports have graduated from an afterthought to a deliberate optics priority for state leadership. As India's para contingent grows in size and medal ambition, politicians who get ahead of results with timely public recognition are also staking a claim on the ecosystem that produces these athletes. The real test will be whether this social-media warmth converts into tangible state-level funding for para-athlete infrastructure in Bihar and beyond.
NationPress
21 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are Sheetal Devi, Payal Nag, and Bhagyashree Jadhav?
Sheetal Devi is an armless para-archer from Jammu and Kashmir known for her remarkable technique; Payal Nag is her partner in the compound women's team event; Bhagyashree Jadhav is a para shot-putter who competes in the F34 seated-athlete category. All three won silver at the Asian Para Games 2026.
What event did Sheetal Devi and Payal Nag win silver in?
Sheetal Devi and Payal Nag won silver in the Para Compound Women's Team archery event at the Asian Para Games 2026.
What is the Women's Shot Put F34 category?
The F34 classification is for seated para-athletes who compete from a throwing chair, requiring significant upper-body strength and precision. Bhagyashree Jadhav won silver in this event at the Asian Para Games 2026.
What are the Asian Para Games?
The Asian Para Games are a continental multi-sport event for athletes with disabilities held every four years under the Asian Paralympic Committee. They serve as a key qualifying and profile-raising platform on the path to the Paralympics.
Why did Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary congratulate these athletes?
Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary congratulated the three athletes on their silver medals at the Asian Para Games 2026, framing their achievement as an inspiration for Indian women who aspire to overcome challenges through determination and self-belief.
