Nadda hails Ravi Kartik Budigina's Silver in 100m Backstroke S13
Synopsis
Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda hailed swimmer Ravi Kartik Budigina's silver medal in the Men's 100m Backstroke S13 at the 2026 Asian Para Games, calling it a testament to his dedication and sporting excellence as India adds to its continental para-sport medal tally.
Key Takeaways
Ravi Kartik Budigina won silver in the Men's 100m Backstroke S13 at the 2026 Asian Para Games .
S13 is a classification for swimmers with visual impairment .
Union Health Minister J.
Nadda congratulated the athlete on 21 October 2026 , describing the result as 'ANOTHER SILVER FOR BHARAT'.
India's para-sport benchmark includes a record 111 medals (29 gold) at the 2022 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou .
Senior government leaders across parties routinely amplify para-sport wins as markers of inclusive national development.
Another silver medal, another moment for India's para-sports story to grow louder. Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda on Wednesday, 21 October 2026 congratulated swimmer Ravi Kartik Budigina on clinching silver in the Men's 100m Backstroke S13 event at the #AsianParaGames2026, calling the performance a reflection of 'dedication, determination and sporting excellence.'
Budigina's backstroke silver at the Asian Para Games
Ravi Kartik Budigina competes in the S13 classification — a category for swimmers with visual impairment — and his silver in the 100m Backstroke adds to India's growing medal account at the 2026 Asian Para Games. Nadda's post, which opened with 'ANOTHER SILVER FOR BHARAT', signals that this is not a standalone result but part of a broader Indian haul accumulating at the Games.
The Asian Para Games is a quadrennial continental multi-sport event held under the Asian Paralympic Council, bringing together athletes with physical, visual, and intellectual impairments from across Asia. India's engagement with the Games has intensified steadily — at the 2022 edition in Hangzhou, the country registered its highest-ever tally of 111 medals, including 29 gold.
Senior leaders amplifying para-sport wins
The pattern of senior political figures spotlighting para-athletics milestones has become a consistent feature of India's sporting culture. Successive governments have incrementally raised budgetary and institutional support for para sports through the Sports Ministry and the Paralympic Committee of India, and continental medals are routinely amplified by leaders across party lines as evidence of inclusive national development.
Nadda's message — 'May you continue to make the nation proud with many more achievements in the years ahead' — frames Budigina not as a one-event story but as an athlete whose arc is still ascending.
For a country that once barely registered at para-sport events, a swimmer converting grit in the pool into a continental silver is exactly the kind of moment a nation bookmarks — and builds on.
Point of View
Not incidental. The framing aligns with a broader governmental effort to weave para-athletics into the mainstream national-achievement narrative, raising visibility and, by extension, political goodwill around inclusive sports policy. With India having shattered its own medal record at Hangzhou 2022, the 2026 edition has become a high-stakes benchmark — every medal adds pressure and expectation. The real test will be whether the post-Games period brings structural follow-through: enhanced training infrastructure, prize parity, and sustained sponsorship for athletes like Budigina beyond the medal moment.
NationPress
21 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Ravi Kartik Budigina?
Ravi Kartik Budigina is an Indian para-swimmer competing in the S13 classification, which covers athletes with visual impairment. He won a silver medal in the Men's 100m Backstroke S13 at the 2026 Asian Para Games.
What is the S13 classification in para swimming?
S13 is a Paralympic swimming classification for athletes with visual impairment who have some residual vision. Competitors in this category use tactile signals to know when to turn or finish.
What are the Asian Para Games?
The Asian Para Games is a quadrennial multi-sport event for athletes with disabilities held across Asia, organised under the Asian Paralympic Council. The 2022 edition was held in Hangzhou, China.
How has India performed at the Asian Para Games historically?
India set its highest-ever medal tally at the 2022 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, winning 111 medals including 29 gold, a significant leap from previous editions.
Why did JP Nadda congratulate Ravi Kartik Budigina?
As Union Health Minister and BJP national president, J. P. Nadda congratulated Budigina on winning silver in the Men's 100m Backstroke S13 at the 2026 Asian Para Games, praising his dedication and sporting excellence.
