Mandaviya hails India's double podium in Women's 400m T47
Synopsis
Anjanaben Bumbadiya clocked a stunning 59.97s to win gold and Jayanti Behera secured silver in 1:00.65 in the Women's 400m T47 Final at the Asian Para Games 2026, earning congratulations from Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya.
Key Takeaways
Anjanaben Bumbadiya won gold in the Women's 400m T47 Final at the Asian Para Games 2026 with a time of 59.97 seconds .
Jayanti Behera secured silver in the same event, clocking 1:00.65 — completing an Indian one-two on the podium.
Bumbadiya broke the symbolic 60-second barrier , a significant milestone in the T47 para-athletics class.
Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya congratulated both athletes on X using the hashtag #Cheet4Bharat .
India previously fielded a large contingent and won multiple medals at the 2022 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou , reflecting a sustained para-sports push.
Two Indian para-athletes turned the track gold and silver on Thursday, 22 October 2026, as Anjanaben Bumbadiya blazed to the top of the Women's 400m T47 podium in a stunning 59.97 seconds at the Asian Para Games 2026 — and Jayanti Behera made it a celebrated Indian double by clinching silver in 1:00.65. Union Labour and Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya was quick to salute both champions on social media.
Mandaviya posted on X: 'Heartiest congratulations to Anjanaben Bumbadiya for storming to Gold in 59.97s, and to Jayanti Behera for securing Silver in 1:00.65 in the Women's 400m T47 Final at the Asian Para Games 2026. #Cheet4Bharat'
Bumbadiya's sub-60 breakthrough
Breaking the 60-second barrier in a para 400m final is no small feat. Bumbadiya's 59.97s run placed her at the summit of Asia's para-athletics hierarchy in the T47 class — a category for athletes with an arm or hand impairment. The timing, razor-thin under the symbolic one-minute mark, signals a performance capable of turning heads on the global para-athletics circuit ahead of upcoming international competitions.
Behera's silver completes an Indian sweep of the top two
Running just 0.68 seconds behind her compatriot, Jayanti Behera crossed the line in 1:00.65 to lock in silver and ensure India owned both the top spots on the podium. A one-two finish in a track final at a continental para games is a rare and emphatic statement — not just of individual talent but of the depth India is building across para disciplines.
India's widening para-sports footprint
The result fits a clear upward trend. India sent one of its largest-ever para-sports contingents to the 2022 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, returning with a strong medal haul that became a benchmark for the ministry's inclusive-sports push. The Sports Ministry has since channelled dedicated resources into coaching, specialised equipment, and international exposure for para-athletes — a programme Mandaviya has positioned as central to India's ambition of becoming a consistent para-sports powerhouse.
The Women's 400m T47 gold and silver add fresh momentum to that story — and with more track-and-field events still to conclude at the 2026 Games, the Indian tally has every reason to keep climbing.
India's para-athletes have made their point on the track. Now the question is how many more times they can make it before the closing ceremony.
Point of View
Equipment support, and competitive international exposure — that has been building since at least the 2022 Hangzhou cycle. For Mandaviya, a minister who has staked political capital on inclusive sports development, each such podium moment doubles as both a human-interest win and a policy validation. The depth suggested by two athletes finishing within a second of each other also hints that India is no longer relying on isolated para-sport stars but is cultivating a genuine competitive bench. If this momentum carries through the remainder of the 2026 Games, expect the Ministry to frame the final tally as evidence for expanding para-sports budgets in the next annual sports grants cycle.
NationPress
22 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won gold in Women's 400m T47 at Asian Para Games 2026?
Anjanaben Bumbadiya of India won gold in the Women's 400m T47 Final at the Asian Para Games 2026, clocking 59.97 seconds.
What time did Jayanti Behera clock for her silver medal?
Jayanti Behera clocked 1:00.65 to win the silver medal in the Women's 400m T47 Final at the Asian Para Games 2026.
What is the T47 classification in para athletics?
T47 is a para-athletics classification for athletes with an arm or hand impairment who compete in track events.
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.
What has India's performance been like at recent Asian Para Games?
India fielded one of its largest contingents at the 2022 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou and won multiple medals, a run it is continuing at the 2026 edition.
