CM Saini Hails Pradeep Kumar, Ayush Verma's Para Games Medals
Synopsis
Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini congratulated para-athletes Pradeep Kumar and Ayush Verma, who won silver and bronze respectively in the men's javelin throw F53/54 event at the 2026 Asian Para Games, both setting personal bests.
Key Takeaways
Pradeep Kumar won silver with a personal-best throw of 27.45 metres in the men's javelin F53/54 at the 2026 Asian Para Games .
Ayush Verma claimed bronze with a personal-best throw of 17.88 metres in the same event.
Both performances were personal bests, set on the same day in the same final.
CM Nayab Singh Saini publicly congratulated both athletes on 20 October 2026 , calling it 'a moment of pride for every Indian.' The F53/54 classification is a seated throws category for athletes with significant physical impairment.
India's para-sport investment has grown steadily, with Haryana producing consistent international medal contenders.
Two Haryana para-athletes stood on the Asian Para Games podium on Tuesday, 20 October 2026, and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini made sure the country took notice — congratulating Pradeep Kumar and Ayush Verma for a historic silver-and-bronze double in the men's javelin throw (F53/54 category).
Pradeep's 27.45 m silver, Ayush's 17.88 m bronze
Pradeep Kumar launched a personal best of 27.45 metres to claim silver, while Ayush Verma threw a personal best of 17.88 metres to take bronze — both athletes peaking at exactly the right moment. Two personal bests on the same day, on the same podium. That is not coincidence; that is preparation meeting pressure.
CM Saini's post captured the mood in a single Hindi phrase: 'हौसलों की उड़ान, तिरंगे का अभिमान' — 'the flight of courage, the pride of the tricolour.' He called their achievement 'a moment of pride for every Indian' and credited their 'spirit, tireless effort, and unshakeable resolve.'
F53/54: competing from a seated position
The F53/54 classification covers seated field athletes — competitors with significant impairment in their throwing arm, legs, or trunk who compete from a fixed chair. Distance in this class demands explosive upper-body power and technical precision that able-bodied throwers rarely appreciate. Every metre is earned differently here.
The Asian Para Games is a quadrennial multi-sport event organised by the Asian Paralympic Committee, serving as the continent's premier stage for athletes with disabilities and a key qualifying platform for global para-sport.
Haryana's para-sport pipeline and what comes next
Haryana has consistently punched above its weight in Indian sport, and its para-athletic contingent is no exception. Government investment in dedicated training infrastructure and support programmes for para-athletes has grown steadily, and results like Tuesday's double podium are the visible dividend. Both Kumar and Verma now carry momentum — and fresh personal bests — into the next cycle of international competition.
Point of View
Effusive congratulations follow a well-established pattern of state leaders amplifying para-athletic success — a visible signal of political prioritisation of disability sport. The double podium in a single event reinforces Haryana's emerging identity as a nursery for para-athletes, not just able-bodied champions. Personal-best performances at a major games suggest both athletes are on an upward trajectory ahead of the next Paralympic cycle. The broader takeaway: government spotlight on para-sport is translating, however gradually, into genuine competitive depth at the Asian level.
NationPress
20 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Pradeep Kumar and what did he win at the 2026 Asian Para Games?
Pradeep Kumar is an Indian para-athlete who won the silver medal in the men's javelin throw F53/54 event at the 2026 Asian Para Games with a personal-best throw of 27.45 metres.
What medal did Ayush Verma win at the 2026 Asian Para Games?
Ayush Verma won the bronze medal in the men's javelin throw F53/54 event at the 2026 Asian Para Games, throwing a personal best of 17.88 metres.
What is the F53/54 classification in para athletics?
F53/54 is a seated field event classification for athletes with significant impairment affecting their legs, trunk, or throwing arm, who compete from a fixed chair.
What is the Asian Para Games?
The Asian Para Games is a quadrennial multi-sport event organised by the Asian Paralympic Committee for athletes with disabilities across Asia, and serves as a key international para-sport platform.
Why did CM Nayab Singh Saini congratulate Pradeep Kumar and Ayush Verma?
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini congratulated both athletes for winning silver and bronze medals in the javelin throw F53/54 final at the 2026 Asian Para Games, calling it a proud moment for every Indian.
