CM Nayab Saini Hails Ravi Kartik's Silver at Asian Para Games
Synopsis
Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini praised Ravi Kartik Budigina for winning silver in the men's 100m freestyle S13 para swimming event at the Asian Para Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, calling it a proud moment for every Indian.
Key Takeaways
Ravi Kartik Budigina won a silver medal in the men's 100m freestyle S13 para swimming event at the Asian Para Games 2026 .
The event is being held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan .
S13 classification covers visually impaired swimmers with partial sight — one of the most demanding para-swimming categories.
Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini offered public congratulations on 19 October 2026 via X.
India's para-sport performance has been on a rising trajectory since the 2018 Asian Para Games and 2020 Tokyo Paralympics .
The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016 helped lay the policy foundation for India's growing para-sport investment.
A swimmer from India just made the nation stand a little taller. Ravi Kartik Budigina claimed a silver medal in the men's 100-metre freestyle S13 para swimming event at the Asian Para Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan — and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini was among the first to mark the moment on Monday, 19 October 2026.
Posting on X, CM Saini wrote: 'रवि कार्तिक बुडिगिना ने पुरुषों की 100 मीटर फ्रीस्टाइल S13 पैरा स्विमिंग स्पर्धा में रजत पदक जीतकर भारत का गौरव बढ़ाया है' — 'Ravi Kartik Budigina has brought glory to India by winning a silver medal in the men's 100m freestyle S13 para swimming event.' He called the athlete's dedication, determination and performance 'a matter of pride for every Indian.'
What S13 classification means — and why it matters
The S13 classification covers swimmers with visual impairments who retain partial sight. Competing in this category demands extraordinary spatial awareness and trust in training — athletes navigate the pool with minimal visual cues, relying on technique and sheer conditioning. A podium finish at continental level in this discipline is no routine achievement.India's rising arc in para sport
Budigina's silver fits into a pattern that has been building for nearly a decade. Since the 2018 Asian Para Games in Jakarta and an emphatic run at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, India has steadily expanded its para-sport footprint — driven by increased government funding, sharper athlete classification systems, and a cultural shift that followed the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act enacted in 2016. That legislation placed disability sports on a firmer policy footing, unlocking pathways from grassroots identification to elite competition. State leaders have become vocal amplifiers of these achievements. CM Saini's congratulatory post is consistent with a broader push by governments — both central and state — to make para-athletic success visible and celebrated rather than quietly noted.Haryana's stake in national sporting glory
Haryana punches well above its weight in Indian sport. The state has produced Olympic and Paralympic champions across wrestling, athletics, and boxing, and its leadership routinely flags individual achievements as proof of what structured support and sheer grit can deliver. For CM Saini, highlighting Budigina's medal is as much about reinforcing Haryana's — and India's — sporting identity as it is a personal tribute to one swimmer. The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games 2026 continue, with more Indian athletes in contention across disciplines. Every result from Japan will feed into a growing conversation about how India invests in, rewards, and tells the stories of its para-sport heroes. Ravi Kartik Budigina just gave that conversation a silver lining.Point of View
Not just Olympic glory. State leaders amplifying para-sport achievements helps normalise disability sports in mainstream public discourse — a shift that began in earnest post-2016 with legislative and funding changes. Budigina's silver at Aichi-Nagoya adds another data point to India's steady rise as a para-sport force in Asia, and the visibility given to individual athletes by elected officials plays a real role in securing future government support for the ecosystem.
NationPress
19 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Ravi Kartik Budigina?
Ravi Kartik Budigina is an Indian para swimmer who won a silver medal in the men's 100m freestyle S13 event at the Asian Para Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
What is S13 classification in para swimming?
S13 is a para swimming classification for athletes with visual impairments who retain partial sight. It is one of several categories that allow visually impaired swimmers to compete at international level.
Where are the Asian Para Games 2026 being held?
The Asian Para Games 2026 are being held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
Why did CM Nayab Singh Saini congratulate Ravi Kartik Budigina?
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini posted on X to congratulate Budigina on winning silver at the Asian Para Games 2026, calling his dedication and performance a matter of pride for every Indian.
How has India performed in para sports in recent years?
India has recorded rising medal counts at events including the 2018 Asian Para Games and 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, supported by increased government funding and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016.
