PM Modi wishes Indian para-athletes at Asian Para Games 2026
Synopsis
Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended best wishes to India's para-athletes as the Asian Para Games 2026 opened in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, calling their grit and dedication an inspiration to 140 crore Indians.
Key Takeaways
Prime Minister Narendra Modi wished the Indian contingent at the Asian Para Games 2026 on 18 October 2026 .
The Games are being held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan — a multi-sport event for para-athletes held every four years across Asia.
Modi described India's para-athletes as an inspiration to 140 crore Indians , citing their grit, dedication and indomitable spirit.
India has steadily grown its para-sports participation, having fielded a contingent at the 2018 Asian Para Games in Jakarta .
The event adds a sports-diplomacy dimension to India's existing economic and strategic ties with Japan .
As Aichi-Nagoya, Japan raises the curtain on the Asian Para Games 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent his best wishes to the Indian contingent on Sunday, 18 October 2026 — saluting the grit and indomitable spirit of the country's para-athletes as they step onto one of Asia's biggest multi-sport stages.
In his post on X, the Prime Minister wrote: 'India is immensely proud of our phenomenal para-athletes. Their grit, dedication and indomitable spirit inspire 140 crore Indians.' It is a message that frames para sport not as a side chapter but as a centrepiece of national pride.
Aichi-Nagoya: a Japanese stage for Asian para-sport
The Asian Para Games are held every four years, bringing together para-athletes from across the continent in a competition designed to mirror the scale and prestige of the Asian Games. The 2026 edition in Aichi-Nagoya marks Japan's hosting of the event — a country that has long invested in accessible, high-standard sports infrastructure and carries strong bilateral ties with India across economic, strategic, and now sporting dimensions.
India's para-sport presence on the Asian stage has grown steadily over the years. The country fielded a contingent at the 2018 Asian Para Games in Jakarta, Indonesia, and the trajectory since — powered by greater institutional support and athlete development — has pointed consistently upward.
India's para-sport journey: from Jakarta to Japan
The arc of Indian para-athletics over the past decade is a story of expanding ambition. Athletes who once competed with minimal structural backing now enter international arenas with coaching, technology, and the visible endorsement of the country's highest office. A Prime Minister's message at the opening of a Games carries weight — it signals to selectors, sponsors, and young aspirants alike that para-sport belongs at the main table.
The Indian contingent heads into Aichi-Nagoya carrying expectations sharpened by recent performances on the global stage. Their medal count and individual journeys over the coming days will be watched closely by 140 crore back home.
India's para-athletes have never needed permission to inspire — but having a Prime Minister say it out loud, to the world, matters. Now the arena awaits.
Point of View
And arguably reinforced, growing public and institutional investment in para-sport. By invoking '140 crore Indians' as collective stakeholders in the athletes' journey, the framing elevates para-athletics into the same national-pride narrative traditionally reserved for cricket or Olympic sport. Against the backdrop of India-Japan bilateral ties, the Aichi-Nagoya setting also gives the moment a quiet diplomatic texture. The real measure, however, will come in the medal tally — and whether the institutional support implied by such endorsements continues to translate into podium finishes.
NationPress
19 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are the Asian Para Games 2026 being held?
The Asian Para Games 2026 are being held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan . Japan is the host country for this edition of the multi-sport event for para-athletes from across Asia.
What did PM Modi say about Indian para-athletes at the Asian Para Games 2026?
PM Modi said India is 'immensely proud' of its para-athletes, calling their grit, dedication and indomitable spirit an inspiration to 140 crore Indians , and conveyed his best wishes to the Indian contingent.
How often are the Asian Para Games held?
The Asian Para Games are held every four years, bringing together para-athletes from across the Asian continent in a format that mirrors the scale of the Asian Games.
Has India participated in the Asian Para Games before?
Yes. India fielded a contingent at the 2018 Asian Para Games in Jakarta, Indonesia , and has been steadily expanding its participation and support for para-sports in international competitions.
Why does India's participation in the Asian Para Games matter?
India's growing presence in para-sport reflects increasing institutional and governmental support for athletes with disabilities. Prime ministerial endorsements have helped mainstream para-athletics into the national sporting narrative alongside Olympic and other global competitions.
