Puri Hails Baby Sahana Ravi's Bronze in Para Table Tennis
Synopsis
Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri celebrated Baby Sahana Ravi's bronze medal in Women's Singles Class 9 Para Table Tennis at the Asian Para Games 2026, calling it part of India's 'fabulous medal run' at the continental para-sport showcase.
Key Takeaways
Baby Sahana Ravi won a Bronze Medal in Women's Singles Class 9 Para Table Tennis at the Asian Para Games 2026 .
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri posted his congratulations on 20 October 2026 , calling India's performance a 'fabulous medal run'.
The Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) and the Petroleum Sports Promotion Board (PSPB) were tagged, suggesting a possible PSPB affiliation for the athlete.
The Asian Para Games is a quadrennial multi-sport event for athletes with disabilities across Asia.
The result adds to India's growing medal count at the 2026 Asian Para Games .
A bronze medal and a proud moment for Indian para sport — Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri celebrated athlete Baby Sahana Ravi's podium finish in Women's Singles Class 9 Para Table Tennis at the Asian Para Games 2026, posting his congratulations on Tuesday, 20 October 2026.
Baby Sahana Ravi's bronze on the Para TT table
Sahana Ravi competed in the Class 9 category — a classification for athletes with a physical impairment that affects one limb but allows for largely ambulant play — and secured third place in the Women's Singles event. Puri called it part of India's 'fabulous medal run' at the Games, flagging the result under the campaign hashtag #Cheer4Bharat.
The Paralympic Committee of India (PCI), the national body that governs para sport and manages Indian representation at events such as the Asian Para Games, was directly tagged in the post alongside the Petroleum Sports Promotion Board (PSPB) — an indication that Sahana Ravi may be affiliated with the PSPB sports quota, a common pathway for Indian athletes in government-sector employment.
Asian Para Games 2026 and India's growing para-sport footprint
The Asian Para Games is a quadrennial multi-sport competition for athletes with disabilities across Asia, held under the auspices of the Asian Paralympic Committee. Para table tennis — played across multiple functional classifications — has been a consistent medal-hunting ground for Indian paddlers at the continental level.
Senior ministers amplifying individual para-athlete results on social media has become a visible part of India's effort to raise the profile of para sport beyond the Olympic calendar. Sahana Ravi's bronze adds to what officials are framing as a momentum-building medal tally for the Indian contingent.
Point of View
Broader strategy to elevate India's para-sport ecosystem beyond the Paralympic cycle and give it mainstream visibility. By tagging both the PCI and PSPB, Puri also underscores the government's institutional investment in athlete pathways through public-sector sports quotas. The spotlight on individual results like Baby Sahana Ravi's bronze helps build the case for sustained funding and infrastructure for para sports ahead of future Games. It reflects how government communication around para athletes has matured from token acknowledgment to proactive, branded celebration.
NationPress
20 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Baby Sahana Ravi?
Baby Sahana Ravi is an Indian para table tennis player who won a Bronze Medal in Women's Singles Class 9 at the Asian Para Games 2026.
What is Class 9 in para table tennis?
Class 9 is a functional classification for ambulant para table tennis players who have a physical impairment primarily affecting one limb, allowing them to play standing at the table.
What is the Asian Para Games?
The Asian Para Games is a quadrennial multi-sport event for athletes with disabilities across Asia, organised under the auspices of the Asian Paralympic Committee.
What is the Petroleum Sports Promotion Board (PSPB)?
The PSPB is a sports body under India's Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas that sponsors and supports athletes through employment in petroleum-sector public sector units.
Why did Hardeep Singh Puri post about the Asian Para Games 2026?
As Union Petroleum Minister, Puri oversees the PSPB, which sponsors several Indian athletes; his post celebrated Baby Sahana Ravi's bronze and promoted India's overall medal run at the Games.
