Rijiju hails India's 14-to-114 medal journey at Asian Para Games 2026
Synopsis
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju amplified PM Modi's tribute to India's para athletes, citing a historic jump from 14 to 114 medals at the Asian Para Games 2026 as proof of the nation's growing para-sport ecosystem and unwavering athlete determination.
Key Takeaways
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju shared PM Narendra Modi's tribute to India's para athletes on November 5, 2026 .
PM Modi described India's journey from 14 to 114 medals at the Asian Para Games 2026 as the 'pinnacle of hard work.' The Asian Para Games is a quadrennial multi-sport event for para athletes organised by the Asian Paralympic Committee.
India's rising para-sport tallies are linked to the Khelo India programme, launched in 2017 , and increased budgetary support through the 2020s.
The government's framing of athletic achievement carries direct implications for future funding cycles and athlete welfare programmes.
From 14 medals to 114 — that is not a stat, that is a transformation. Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju marked India's historic haul at the Asian Para Games 2026 on Thursday, November 5, citing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's own words to frame the achievement as the pinnacle of para-athlete determination.
Rijiju shared the tribute on X, quoting PM Modi: '14 se 114 medals ki yeh yatra aapke parishram ki parakaashtha hai, usika parinaam hai' — 'This journey from 14 to 114 medals is the pinnacle of your hard work, and is its result.' The post carried the hashtag #AsianParaGames2026, marking the moment as a landmark in Indian para-sport history.
A tally that tells India's para-sport story
The Asian Para Games is a quadrennial multi-sport event for athletes with disabilities, organised by the Asian Paralympic Committee. India's medal count at successive editions has tracked closely with the country's expanding investment in para sports — a rise too steep to be coincidence. 114 medals at a single edition represents a leap that only sustained, systemic effort produces.
The Khelo India programme, launched in 2017, built dedicated para-sports verticals into what had previously been a mainstream-focused ecosystem. Budgetary allocations for para athletes rose through the 2020s, backed by state-level academies and growing corporate sponsorship. The numbers on the board in 2026 are the downstream reward of decisions made years earlier.
Modi's words, Rijiju's amplification
That it was PM Modi's own framing — not a bureaucratic press note — chosen to mark the moment matters. The Prime Minister has consistently made public gestures toward para athletes, from personal congratulatory calls after podium finishes to flagging their achievements in public addresses. Rijiju, a senior BJP leader from Arunachal Pradesh who frequently champions national sports milestones, amplified that message directly to his followers.
The ripple effect runs beyond optics. When a head of government frames a medal tally as the 'pinnacle of hard work,' it signals to selectors, federations, and sponsors where political priority sits — and that signal has real consequences for funding cycles and athlete welfare programmes in the years ahead.
India's para athletes built a 114-medal story one gruelling session at a time. The government's task now is to ensure the infrastructure exists for the next generation to write an even bigger one.
Point of View
Reflecting a decade of deliberate infrastructure investment anchored by the Khelo India programme. When the Prime Minister personally frames the tally in terms of 'hard work' rather than government credit, the messaging is calibrated — it places the athlete at the centre while the state positions itself as a quiet enabler. For Rijiju, amplifying that message reinforces the BJP's sustained effort to associate itself with India's rising sports identity ahead of budget cycles where para-sport allocations will face fresh scrutiny.
NationPress
6 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did PM Modi say about India at Asian Para Games 2026?
PM Modi said that India's journey from 14 to 114 medals is the 'pinnacle of hard work' by the para athletes and the direct result of their efforts, as quoted by Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on X.
How many medals did India win at Asian Para Games 2026?
India's medal tally at the Asian Para Games 2026 reached 114 medals, as cited by Union Minister Kiren Rijiju quoting PM Modi on November 5, 2026.
What is the Asian Para Games?
The Asian Para Games is a quadrennial multi-sport event for athletes with disabilities, organised by the Asian Paralympic Committee across Asia.
What is the Khelo India programme's role in para sports?
Launched in 2017, the Khelo India programme created dedicated para-sports verticals within India's national sports ecosystem, contributing to the country's rising medal counts at continental and global para events.
Why did Kiren Rijiju post about Asian Para Games 2026?
As Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister and a senior BJP leader who frequently champions national sports milestones, Rijiju amplified PM Modi's tribute to India's para athletes on X to mark the historic 114-medal haul.
