Rajnath Singh hails Akira Nandan Banothu's Asian Para Games silver
Synopsis
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated para athlete Akira Nandan Banothu on winning the silver medal in the Men's 400m T35/T38 event at the Asian Para Games 2026, praising the Games Record-setting performance.
Key Takeaways
Akira Nandan Banothu won the silver medal in the Men's 400m T35/T38 event at the Asian Para Games 2026 .
His performance set a Games Record in the event.
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh publicly congratulated Banothu on X on October 21, 2026 .
Banothu competes in the T35/T38 classification , for athletes with coordination impairments.
The Asian Para Games is a quadrennial continental multi-sport event for para athletes across Asia.
A Games Record on the track, a silver medal around his neck — Indian para athlete Akira Nandan Banothu delivered a performance worth marking at the Asian Para Games 2026, earning a public salute from Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday, October 21.
Singh took to X to congratulate Banothu on winning the silver medal in the Men's 400m T35/T38 event, noting that the run also set a Games Record. 'His outstanding performance, which set a Games Record, is a remarkable achievement,' Singh wrote, adding his best wishes for Banothu's continued success.
Who is Akira Nandan Banothu?
Banothu competes in the T35/T38 classification, a category designed for athletes with coordination impairments — conditions that affect muscle control and movement but allow athletes to compete on the track. Breaking a Games Record in the 400m at a continental para-athletics event places him firmly among the elite para sprinters on the Asian circuit.India at the Asian Para Games
The Asian Para Games is a quadrennial multi-sport event for athletes with disabilities from across Asia, sitting alongside the Asian Games in the regional sporting calendar. India has steadily grown its para-sports programme over the past decade, with athletes increasingly competitive across track, field, and other disciplines at both Asian and global levels. A minister of Singh's seniority lending his public voice to a para athlete's achievement signals the continued mainstreaming of para-sports recognition at the highest levels of Indian public life.Point of View
And the Defence Minister's public acknowledgment adds institutional weight to a discipline that has historically sat in the shadow of able-bodied athletics. As India's para-sports pipeline deepens, such moments of high-visibility recognition help sustain public interest and, potentially, policy and funding momentum heading into future international cycles.
NationPress
22 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Akira Nandan Banothu?
Akira Nandan Banothu is an Indian para athlete competing in the T35/T38 classification, which covers athletes with coordination impairments. He won the silver medal in the Men's 400m T35/T38 event at the Asian Para Games 2026, setting a Games Record in the process.
What is the T35/T38 classification in para athletics?
The T35/T38 classification is for para athletes who have coordination impairments — such as those affecting muscle control — that impact their running ability. Athletes in this category compete on the track in sprint and distance events.
What did Akira Nandan Banothu achieve at the Asian Para Games 2026?
Banothu won the silver medal in the Men's 400m T35/T38 event and set a Games Record at the Asian Para Games 2026.
What is the Asian Para Games?
The Asian Para Games is a quadrennial multi-sport event for athletes with disabilities from across Asia. It is held every four years alongside the Asian Games calendar.
Why did Rajnath Singh congratulate Akira Nandan Banothu?
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh posted on X to congratulate Banothu on his silver medal and Games Record performance in the Men's 400m T35/T38 event at the Asian Para Games 2026.
