CM Rekha Gupta Hails India's 1-2 Finish at Asian Para Games 2026
Synopsis
Delhi CM Rekha Gupta celebrated India's sweep of gold and silver in the Women's 1500m T12/T13 at the Asian Para Games 2026, praising Soumya Kumar and Radha Venkatesh for their historic 1-2 finish.
Key Takeaways
Soumya Kumar won gold and Radha Venkatesh won silver in the Women's 1500m T12/T13 at the Asian Para Games 2026 .
India completed a 1-2 podium sweep — locking out both top positions in the event.
T12 and T13 classifications cover visually impaired athletes in para athletics.
Delhi CM Rekha Gupta publicly congratulated both athletes on October 19, 2026 via X.
India's para athletics programme has expanded its medal-winning capacity in track events significantly since the 2010s .
Further state or central government recognitions for the athletes are anticipated as the Games continue.
A gold and a silver, back to back, for India — and the country is celebrating. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta took to X on Monday, October 19, 2026, to congratulate Soumya Kumar and Radha Venkatesh after the two para athletes delivered a stunning 1-2 finish in the Women's 1500m T12/T13 event at the Asian Para Games 2026.
Gold for Soumya, Silver for Radha — a historic podium sweep
Soumya Kumar claimed the top step of the podium with a gold-medal run, while Radha Venkatesh finished immediately behind her to secure silver — meaning India locked out the top two positions in the event. CM Gupta called it a 'glorious 1-2 finish,' crediting the athletes' 'grit, determination and sporting excellence' for making 'the entire nation proud.' The T12 and T13 classifications are for visually impaired athletes, with T13 denoting a lesser degree of visual impairment.
India's para sport momentum at the Asian Para Games
India's showing at the Asian Para Games has grown considerably since the country began ramping up its para athletics infrastructure in the 2010s. Successive editions of the Games have seen Indian para athletes push deeper into middle- and long-distance track events — disciplines that once yielded little for the country but have increasingly become areas of competitive strength. A 1-2 finish in a track event underlines how far the programme has come.
Political voices amplifying para sport achievements have become a consistent feature of India's sporting culture, with leaders across parties using platforms to spotlight athletes whose victories might otherwise receive less prime-time attention than their able-bodied counterparts. CM Gupta's post, tagged #Cheer4Bharat, fits that pattern — but the achievement it spotlights is concrete and exceptional.
India's para athletes are likely to attract further attention — and potentially state or central government recognition — as the full Asian Para Games 2026 medal tally takes shape. Two athletes, one podium, zero doubt about who owned the 1500m that day.
Point of View
And they align the government's image with an inclusion narrative that has bipartisan appeal. With the Asian Para Games 2026 still ongoing, each additional medal is a data point in India's broader argument for greater para sport investment.
NationPress
19 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won gold in Women's 1500m T12/T13 at Asian Para Games 2026?
Soumya Kumar won the gold medal in the Women's 1500m T12/T13 event at the Asian Para Games 2026 , as announced by Delhi CM Rekha Gupta on October 19, 2026.
Who won silver in Women's 1500m T12/T13 at Asian Para Games 2026?
Radha Venkatesh secured the silver medal in the Women's 1500m T12/T13 event at the Asian Para Games 2026 , completing a 1-2 finish for India.
What does T12/T13 mean in para athletics?
T12 and T13 are classifications for visually impaired para athletes. T13 denotes a lesser degree of visual impairment than T12, and both compete in the same track events at major para competitions.
What did Rekha Gupta say about India's performance at Asian Para Games 2026?
Delhi CM Rekha Gupta called it a 'glorious 1-2 finish' and praised the athletes' 'grit, determination and sporting excellence,' saying they had 'made the entire nation proud.'
When are the Asian Para Games 2026 taking place?
Based on CM Rekha Gupta's post dated October 19, 2026 , the Asian Para Games 2026 are currently under way, with India competing across multiple events.
