CM Fadnavis hails Dharmaraj Solairaj's Para Games gold
Synopsis
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis congratulated para athlete Dharmaraj Solairaj on clinching gold in the Men's Long Jump T44/T62/T64 final at the Asian Para Games 2026, with a jump of 7.15 metres, calling it an outstanding achievement.
Key Takeaways
Dharmaraj Solairaj won gold in the Men's Long Jump T44/T62/T64 final at the Asian Para Games 2026 .
His winning jump measured 7.15 metres .
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis publicly congratulated Solairaj on 22 October 2026 .
India has participated in the Asian Para Games since the inaugural edition in Guangzhou, 2010 .
The T44/T62/T64 classification covers athletes competing with lower-limb impairments or prosthetic running blades.
A jump of 7.15 metres. That was all it took for Dharmaraj Solairaj to plant India's flag at the top of the Men's Long Jump podium at the Asian Para Games 2026 — and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was quick to celebrate the moment on Thursday, 22 October 2026.
Fadnavis took to X to extend his congratulations, writing: 'Heartiest congratulations to Dharmaraj Solairaj on clinching Gold in the Men's Long Jump T44/T62/T64 final at the Asian Para Games 2026 with an outstanding jump of 7.15 metres.' The Chief Minister also wished the athlete 'continued success in his sporting journey.'
A 7.15-metre leap into gold
Solairaj competed in the T44/T62/T64 classification, a combined category that includes athletes with lower-limb impairments — those who compete with a prosthetic running blade or with a limb difference that affects the mechanics of the jump. Clearing 7.15 metres in that final is a mark that demands both explosive power and precise technical execution. The result adds another gold to India's growing haul at the continental para stage.India's rising presence at the Asian Para Games
India has been a regular competitor at the Asian Para Games since the inaugural edition in Guangzhou in 2010, and each subsequent cycle has seen the country field a more competitive and better-supported contingent. Official recognition — from Prime Ministers to state Chief Ministers — has grown in step with on-field performance, reflecting a broader national shift in how para athletes are viewed: not as a separate, lesser category, but as full representatives of Team India. Fadnavis's post, tagged #AsianParaGames2026, #Cheer4Bharat, and #TeamIndia, sits within that tradition of high-visibility political acknowledgement — a signal that para sport medals now command the same ceremonial attention as any other international podium finish. With the Asian Para Games still under way, India's full medal tally continues to build. Solairaj's gold is a moment worth marking — a single athlete, a single jump, and a number that now lives in the record books.Point of View
Such high-profile recognition from state executives adds soft pressure on sports ministries to sustain and expand para-athlete funding pipelines.
NationPress
22 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Dharmaraj Solairaj?
Dharmaraj Solairaj is an Indian para athlete who competes in the long jump under the T44/T62/T64 classification, which covers athletes with lower-limb impairments.
What is the T44/T62/T64 classification in para athletics?
T44/T62/T64 is a combined para athletics classification for field events that includes athletes with lower-limb impairments — such as those who use a prosthetic running blade or have a limb difference affecting locomotion.
What was Dharmaraj Solairaj's winning jump at Asian Para Games 2026?
Dharmaraj Solairaj won gold with a jump of 7.15 metres in the Men's Long Jump T44/T62/T64 final at the Asian Para Games 2026.
When did India first compete at the Asian Para Games?
India has fielded teams at the Asian Para Games since the inaugural edition held in Guangzhou in 2010.
Why did CM Devendra Fadnavis post about Dharmaraj Solairaj?
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis posted to publicly congratulate Solairaj on his gold medal, reflecting the wider practice of Indian political leaders recognising para-sport achievements at the national level.
