Puri Hails Manjeet's Silver in Asian Para Games Javelin
Synopsis
Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri congratulated para-athlete Manjeet for winning silver in the Men's Javelin Throw F12/F13 at the Asian Para Games 2026, tagging the Paralympic Committee of India and the Petroleum Sports Promotion Board in his post.
Key Takeaways
Manjeet won a silver medal in the Men's Javelin Throw F12/F13 at the Asian Para Games 2026 .
Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri publicly congratulated the athlete on 22 October 2026 .
The post tagged both the Paralympic Committee of India and the Petroleum Sports Promotion Board (PSPB) , highlighting institutional backing for para athletes.
The F12/F13 classification covers athletes with visual impairments, making the javelin event especially demanding.
The PSPB , under the Petroleum Ministry, has long employed and supported Indian athletes across disciplines, including para sports.
Puri's reference to a 'winning run' suggests India has been mounting a broader medal push at the 2026 Asian Para Games .
India's para-sports medal haul at the Asian Para Games 2026 grew richer on Thursday, 22 October 2026, as Manjeet claimed silver in the Men's Javelin Throw F12/F13 event — and Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri was quick to make sure the moment didn't pass unnoticed.
Puri took to X to congratulate the athlete, writing: 'Our champions continue their winning run! Congratulations to Manjeet on winning the Silver Medal in the Men's Javelin Throw F12/F13 at #AsianParaGames2026! #Cheer4Bharat'. The post tagged the Paralympic Committee of India (@PCI_IN_Official) and the Petroleum Sports Promotion Board (@pspbmedia) — a subtle but pointed reminder that India's petroleum sector has long had skin in the game when it comes to nurturing sportspersons.
Manjeet's Silver and What the F12/F13 Class Means
The F12 and F13 classifications in para-athletics cover athletes with visual impairments — F12 denoting those with partial sight and F13 those with a higher degree of functional vision. Competing in a combined event across both classes demands not just raw throwing power but exceptional spatial awareness. Winning silver against Asia's best in that bracket is no small feat.
PSPB's Quiet Role Behind India's Para-Sports Rise
The tagging of @pspbmedia — the Petroleum Sports Promotion Board, a body under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas — points to an infrastructure story that rarely makes front pages. The PSPB has for decades employed athletes across disciplines, providing them a stable income and competitive exposure that many private sponsors simply don't offer. Para athletes have increasingly benefited from this model as successive governments have pushed to expand India's presence in international disability sport.
The Paralympic Committee of India, the national body overseeing para sports, has been central to coordinating selection and support for squads heading to events like the Asian Para Games, held every four years for athletes with disabilities across the continent.
India's Momentum at Asian Para Games 2026
Puri's phrase 'winning run' signals a broader Indian performance at the 2026 edition of the Games, not an isolated result. Indian ministers using social media to amplify individual para-sport achievements has become a pattern — one that doubles as both genuine recognition and a public signal of government backing for an ecosystem that once ran on almost no official attention at all.
Manjeet's silver adds to whatever tally India is building at these Games. Every medal from an athlete in the visually impaired category carries an extra layer of weight — and this one lands squarely in the national conversation.
Point of View
Signalling that the Petroleum Ministry sees itself as an active stakeholder, not just a cheerleader. India's rising profile at Asian Para Games events reflects years of quiet investment through bodies like PSPB, which offered athletes financial stability long before para sports gained mainstream visibility. The F12/F13 javelin silver fits a broader arc: India is no longer just participating at continental para-sport events, it is competing to top podiums. Sustained ministerial attention, paired with structural employer-of-athletes programmes, is increasingly the model other ministries are being asked to replicate.
NationPress
22 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Manjeet and what medal did he win at Asian Para Games 2026?
Manjeet is an Indian para-athlete who won the silver medal in the Men's Javelin Throw F12/F13 event at the Asian Para Games 2026.
What does F12/F13 mean in para athletics?
F12 and F13 are classifications for athletes with visual impairments — F12 for those with partial sight and F13 for those with a higher degree of functional vision — competing in field events such as javelin throw.
What is the Petroleum Sports Promotion Board (PSPB)?
The Petroleum Sports Promotion Board is a sports body under India's Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas that employs and supports athletes across multiple disciplines, including para sports, providing them with financial stability and competitive opportunities.
Why did Hardeep Singh Puri congratulate Manjeet?
As Union Petroleum Minister and a senior government official, Puri congratulated Manjeet on his silver medal at Asian Para Games 2026, also highlighting the role of the PSPB and the Paralympic Committee of India in supporting the athlete.
When are the Asian Para Games held?
The Asian Para Games are a multi-sport event for athletes with disabilities held every four years across Asia, with the 2026 edition currently under way.
