Rijiju flags PM Modi's meet with Asian Para Games Champions
Synopsis
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met India's Asian Para Games champions on November 5, 2026. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju shared a live-stream of the event, continuing the government's tradition of publicly honouring para athletes at the highest level.
Key Takeaways
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju shared a live-stream link of PM Narendra Modi meeting India's Asian Para Games champions on November 5, 2026 .
The meeting continues a consistent government tradition of publicly honouring para athletes at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg .
India set a record of 111 medals at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Para Games , underlining the country's rising para sports profile.
The Asian Para Games is a quadrennial multi-sport event run by the Asian Paralympic Committee for athletes with disabilities.
Rijiju's amplification of the event signals a deliberate push to maximise public visibility for para sport achievements.
India's para athletes got their moment in the spotlight on Thursday, November 5, 2026, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi met the country's Asian Para Games champions — a recognition that Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju made sure the nation could watch live.
Rijiju shared a livestream link on X, inviting followers to tune in to the meeting between the Prime Minister and India's para champions. The post, brief and direct, carried the hashtag #WatchLive — signalling that the event was broadcast in real time for a national audience.
A tradition of recognising para excellence
Meeting medal-winning athletes at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg has become a signature gesture of the Modi government. After India's landmark 111-medal haul at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Para Games — a record performance for the country at any edition of the Games — the Prime Minister met the contingent to publicly celebrate their achievement. That tradition appears to be continuing, with para champions once again being welcomed to the Prime Minister's residence. The Asian Para Games, held every four years under the Asian Paralympic Committee, is the continent's premier multi-sport competition for athletes with disabilities. India's rising medal tallies at successive editions reflect years of expanding institutional support, dedicated training programmes, and a gradual but real shift in how para sport is perceived — both by officialdom and the public.Rijiju's role in para sport visibility
Rijiju, a senior BJP leader from Arunachal Pradesh and a former Sports Minister, has long been associated with championing India's sporting ecosystem. His decision to amplify the PM's meeting with a live-stream share underscores a broader communication strategy: making these moments of recognition visible to the widest possible audience, not just those inside the room. Public recognition from the highest office carries weight. For para athletes who often train with fewer resources and less media coverage than their able-bodied counterparts, a Prime Ministerial meeting is both a personal honour and a national statement about where India places their achievements in the sporting hierarchy. With the next cycle of international para competitions on the horizon, the pressure — and the expectation — on Indian para sport has never been higher. Today's meeting is a reminder of exactly what the country is cheering for.Point of View
High-visibility meetings with para athletes serve a dual purpose: genuine morale-boosting and strategic nation-branding around inclusive excellence. Rijiju's live-stream share extends the audience far beyond those in the room, turning a private audience into a public celebration. This sits within a broader arc of successive governments institutionalising para sport support — but the current administration has leaned into the optics more deliberately than its predecessors. With India eyeing even bigger medal hauls at future editions, the political and sporting incentives to keep this tradition alive are only growing.
NationPress
5 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did PM Modi meet Asian Para Games champions?
PM Modi met India's Asian Para Games champions to publicly honour their achievements, continuing a tradition of recognising para athletes at the Prime Minister's residence after major international competitions.
What is the Asian Para Games?
The Asian Para Games is a multi-sport event for athletes with disabilities, held every four years under the Asian Paralympic Committee, bringing together para athletes from across the continent.
How many medals did India win at the 2023 Asian Para Games?
India won a record 111 medals at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Para Games , the country's best-ever performance at any edition of the Games.
Who is Kiren Rijiju?
Kiren Rijiju is a senior BJP leader from Arunachal Pradesh and currently serves as India's Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Minister of Minority Affairs. He is a former Sports Minister.
Where does PM Modi typically meet sports champions?
PM Modi typically meets medal-winning athletes at his official residence, 7, Lok Kalyan Marg , in New Delhi.
