Puri hails Soumya, Radha for Asian Para Games gold and silver
Synopsis
Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri congratulated para-athletes Soumya Kumar and Radha Venkatesh for a gold-silver sweep in the Women's 1500m T12/13 at the Asian Para Games 2026, also tagging the PSPB — a body under his own ministry that nurtures elite para-sports talent.
Key Takeaways
Soumya Kumar won gold and Radha Venkatesh won silver in the Women's 1500m T12/13 at the Asian Para Games 2026 .
The T12/13 classification covers athletes with visual impairments, making the 1500m a technically demanding event requiring guide-runner coordination.
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri publicly congratulated both athletes on 19 October 2026 via X.
Puri tagged the Petroleum Sports Promotion Board (PSPB) , which operates under his ministry and supports elite para-sportspersons with stable employment.
India's one-two finish in a single event signals squad depth, not merely individual performance, at continental level.
Two Indian para-athletes lit up the Women's 1500m T12/13 track at the Asian Para Games 2026 on Monday, October 19 — Soumya Kumar storming to gold and Radha Venkatesh clinching silver in the same event, a one-two finish that drew a swift and warm response from Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri.
Puri took to X to celebrate the double podium, writing: 'Another fabulous show by Indian athletes at #AsianParaGames2026! Congratulations to Soumya Kumar on winning Gold and Radha Venkatesh on securing Silver in Women's 1500m T12/13 event.' He tagged the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) and the Petroleum Sports Promotion Board (PSPB) — a pointed detail, given that the PSPB, which functions under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, has long been a feeder of elite Indian para-sports talent.
The T12/13 classification and what it demands
The T12/13 category covers athletes with visual impairments — T12 for those with some residual light perception, T13 for those with a less severe visual impairment. Middle-distance running at this level demands not just raw speed but exceptional spatial awareness and trust in a guide runner. A gold-and-silver sweep by India in such a technically demanding classification is no routine outcome.
PSPB's quiet role in Indian para-sports
The PSPB tag in Puri's post is more than a courtesy mention. The board, operated under his ministry, funds and employs sportspersons across disciplines, providing them stable livelihoods so they can train full-time — a model that has quietly contributed to India's growing para-sports pipeline. Puri's decision to loop in @pspbmedia signals institutional pride alongside personal congratulation.
India's para-athletics contingent has steadily expanded its medal footprint at Asian-level competitions over the past decade, with government investment in coaching infrastructure and classification support growing in parallel. A one-two finish in a single track event, however, is a marker of depth, not just individual brilliance — it means India fielded two athletes good enough to top a continental field in the same race.
For Soumya Kumar and Radha Venkatesh, the medals arrive on the continental stage where careers are made and Paralympic selection conversations begin. The track has spoken — loudly.
Point of View
But the PSPB tag adds an institutional dimension — it quietly credits a petroleum-ministry programme that converts government employment into athletic pipeline. India's one-two in a visually impaired middle-distance race reflects a maturation in para-sports depth that goes beyond individual talent spotting. As India eyes stronger Paralympic medal tallies, continental sweeps like this will be the benchmark used to justify continued public investment in sports promotion boards. The question now is whether this depth translates into podiums at the next Paralympic Games.
NationPress
19 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won gold in Women's 1500m T12/13 at Asian Para Games 2026?
Soumya Kumar of India won the gold medal in the Women's 1500m T12/13 event at the Asian Para Games 2026.
Who is Radha Venkatesh and what medal did she win?
Radha Venkatesh is an Indian para-athlete who won the silver medal in the Women's 1500m T12/13 event at the Asian Para Games 2026, finishing second behind teammate Soumya Kumar.
What does the T12/13 classification mean in para-athletics?
T12/13 refers to athletes with visual impairments — T12 covers those with minimal light perception and T13 those with a less severe visual impairment. Athletes in these classes typically compete with a sighted guide runner.
What is the PSPB and how does it support Indian para-athletes?
The Petroleum Sports Promotion Board (PSPB) is run under India's Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. It employs elite sportspersons, giving them financial stability and full-time training access across multiple disciplines, including para-sports.
Why did Hardeep Singh Puri tag PSPB in his Asian Para Games congratulations post?
Hardeep Singh Puri is the Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, the ministry that oversees the PSPB. Tagging PSPB indicated that one or both athletes may be associated with the board, and reflected the ministry's institutional stake in their achievement.
