CM Saini Congratulates India's Asian Para Games 2026 Medallists
Synopsis
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini congratulated four Indian para athletes — Dilip Gavit (gold), Bhavik Kumar Bharwad (silver), Ravi Karthik (bronze), and Ravanni Valasanaini (bronze) — on their medal-winning performances at the Asian Para Games 2026.
Key Takeaways
Dilip Gavit won gold in the men's 400 metres T47 at Asian Para Games 2026.
Bhavik Kumar Bharwad claimed silver in the same T47 event , giving India a one-two finish.
Ravi Karthik earned bronze in the men's 50 metres freestyle S13 swimming event.
Ravanni Valasanaini won bronze in the women's 400 metres T11 , the fully blind sprint category.
Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini publicly congratulated all four athletes on 22 October 2026 .
India's best-ever Asian Para Games tally came at the 2022 Hangzhou edition , with the 2026 campaign adding to that momentum.
Four Indian para athletes added fresh lustre to the tricolour at the Asian Para Games 2026, and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini was among the first to salute their feat — posting warm congratulations on Thursday, 22 October 2026.
Gold, silver, and bronze: what India won
Dilip Gavit claimed the headline moment, storming to gold in the men's 400 metres T47 — a category for athletes with a single-arm impairment. Right behind him, compatriot Bhavik Kumar Bharwad held on for silver in the same event, giving India a stunning one-two finish in the race.
In the pool, Ravi Karthik touched the wall to earn bronze in the men's 50 metres freestyle S13 — the classification for visually impaired swimmers who retain some sight. On the track, Ravanni Valasanaini completed the haul with a bronze in the women's 400 metres T11, the fully blind sprint category, where athletes run tethered to a guide.
Saini's message and the visibility push
Writing in Hindi, Saini offered 'hardik badhai evam shubhkamnayen' — heartfelt congratulations and best wishes — to all four athletes, tagging the post with #Cheer4Bharat and #AsianParaGames2026. The gesture fits a deliberate pattern: state chief ministers have increasingly used social media to put para-sport achievements in the same spotlight as mainstream sporting wins, signalling that the performances deserve equal national pride.
India's para-sport trajectory has climbed steadily over the past decade, underpinned by growing government investment in training infrastructure and athlete support programmes. The country recorded its best-ever Asian Para Games medal tally at the 2022 edition in Hangzhou, and the results filtering through from the 2026 Games suggest the upward curve is holding.
Why these four names matter
The spread of medals — athletics and swimming, men and women, gold through bronze — reflects the broadening depth of India's para contingent rather than reliance on a single star. A one-two finish by Gavit and Bharwad in the T47 400 metres is the kind of result that turns a good campaign into a statement one. For Valasanaini, competing in the most demanding visual-impairment sprint category, a podium finish in the women's T11 is a marker of elite preparation and trust between athlete and guide.
India's para athletes now head deeper into the 2026 Games with momentum — and with the country watching.
Point of View
Reinforcing the political currency of para-sport success. With the Paralympic movement gaining global visibility, India's incremental medal-tally growth at successive Asian Para Games also serves as a benchmark for the effectiveness of centrally and state-funded athlete development pipelines. The range of medals — across track and pool, men and women — signals that India's para contingent is building systemic depth rather than depending on isolated champions.
NationPress
23 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won gold for India at Asian Para Games 2026 in the 400 metres T47?
Dilip Gavit won the gold medal in the men's 400 metres T47 event at the Asian Para Games 2026. His teammate Bhavik Kumar Bharwad finished right behind him to claim silver in the same race.
What did Ravi Karthik win at Asian Para Games 2026?
Ravi Karthik won the bronze medal in the men's 50 metres freestyle S13 swimming event at the Asian Para Games 2026. The S13 category is for visually impaired swimmers who retain partial sight.
Who is Ravanni Valasanaini and what event did she medal in?
Ravanni Valasanaini is an Indian para athlete who won bronze in the women's 400 metres T11 at the Asian Para Games 2026. The T11 category is for fully blind sprinters who compete with a guide runner.
Why did Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini congratulate para athletes?
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini posted congratulations on 22 October 2026 to celebrate four Indian para athletes who won medals at the Asian Para Games 2026, reflecting his government's support for para sports.
When were the Asian Para Games held and where?
The Asian Para Games 2026 is a multi-sport event for athletes with disabilities held every four years under the Asian Paralympic Committee. The previous edition was held in Hangzhou in 2022 , where India recorded its best-ever medal tally.
