Anurag Thakur Hails Nitesh Kumar, Pramod Bhagat at Asian Para Games
Synopsis
BJP MP Anurag Thakur praised Nitesh Kumar and Pramod Bhagat after they claimed gold and silver respectively in the Badminton Men's Singles SL3 category at the Asian Para Games 2026, underscoring India's growing para-sports strength.
Key Takeaways
Nitesh Kumar won Gold in Badminton Men's Singles SL3 at Asian Para Games 2026 , defending his status as reigning Paralympics Champion.
Pramod Bhagat , reigning World Champion in SL3, claimed Silver in the same event — a historic one-two for India.
BJP MP Anurag Thakur extended congratulations on 23 October 2026 , amplifying visibility for Indian para sports.
India's para-badminton programme has received targeted support under the Khelo India scheme since 2017 .
The podium sweep reflects India's deepening depth in para-badminton across successive international competitions.
Gold and silver in the same event — India's para-badminton pair just turned the Asian Para Games 2026 Badminton Men's Singles SL3 final into a national celebration. BJP MP Anurag Thakur, former Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, took to X on Friday, 23 October 2026 to congratulate both athletes after their podium sweep.
Thakur posted: 'What a performance! Heartiest congratulations to reigning Paralympics Champion Nitesh Kumar on winning Gold, and reigning World Champion Pramod Bhagat on securing Silver in the Badminton Men's Singles SL3 event at the Asian Para Games 2026.'
Nitesh Kumar's Gold: a Paralympics champion defends his standing
Nitesh Kumar arrived at these Games carrying the weight of a Paralympic gold — a title he claimed in the SL3 category at Tokyo 2020. He delivered again. The SL3 classification covers players with lower-limb impairments who compete on a half-court; the demands on footwork and upper-body control are immense, and Nitesh has consistently been among the world's very best at navigating them.
Pramod Bhagat's Silver: a world champion on the podium
Pramod Bhagat is no lesser name. A multiple-time World Champion in the same SL3 category, Bhagat has been the face of Indian para-badminton for the better part of a decade. That two athletes of this calibre occupied the top two steps of the same podium on the same day speaks to the extraordinary depth India has developed in the discipline.
Why this para-badminton sweep matters for India
Indian para athletes have charted a consistent upward trajectory across successive Paralympic and Asian Para Games editions. The Khelo India scheme, launched in 2017, extended targeted support to para athletes alongside their able-bodied peers — a policy shift that helped build the pipeline producing champions like Nitesh and Pramod. Ministerial congratulations of this kind also serve a practical purpose: they sustain public visibility for para sports in a media landscape that can be quick to move on.
For Thakur, who held the Sports portfolio before his current role, the recognition carries a personal dimension — he watched this generation of para-badminton stars rise during his tenure. The gold-silver finish at a continental Games is precisely the kind of result that strengthens the case for continued infrastructure investment heading into the next Paralympic cycle.
Point of View
Coming from a former Sports Minister with direct policy investment in this cohort, carries more than ceremonial weight; it signals continued political capital behind para-sports funding. The real test will be whether this momentum translates into enhanced infrastructure commitments ahead of the next Paralympic cycle, or remains largely in the register of celebratory social media. Either way, Nitesh Kumar and Pramod Bhagat have just given the strongest possible argument for the former.
NationPress
23 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Nitesh Kumar, the para-badminton player?
Nitesh Kumar is an Indian para-badminton player in the SL3 category who won gold at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, making him the reigning Paralympics Champion. He added another gold at the Asian Para Games 2026.
Who is Pramod Bhagat and what did he win?
Pramod Bhagat is a multiple-time World Champion in para-badminton's SL3 category. He secured silver in the Badminton Men's Singles SL3 event at the Asian Para Games 2026.
What is the SL3 category in para-badminton?
SL3 (Standing Lower-3) is a para-badminton classification for athletes with lower-limb impairments who compete on a half-court, requiring significant upper-body strength and adapted footwork.
What is the Asian Para Games?
The Asian Para Games is a quadrennial multi-sport event for athletes with disabilities from across Asia, organised under the auspices of the Asian Paralympic Committee.
What is Anurag Thakur's connection to Indian sports?
Anurag Thakur served as Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports and oversaw Indian sports policy, including support for para athletes under the Khelo India scheme. He is currently a BJP Lok Sabha MP from Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh.
