Four Indian para athletes carried the tricolour higher at the Asian Para Games 2026 in Japan, and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini was quick to celebrate each one — with a special note of pride for a son of his own state on Wednesday, 21 October 2026.

Saini's post on X named four athletes across four distinct disciplines: Akira Nandan Banothu claimed silver in the men's 400 metres T35/T38; Sukhchain Dhankhar, whom the Chief Minister singled out as a 'Haryana ka beta' (son of Haryana), won bronze in men's javelin throw F55; Ravi Karthik Budigina took silver in the men's 100 metres backstroke S13; and Rohit Kumar added bronze in the men's 100 metres backstroke SB4. Writing in Hindi, Saini told the athletes: 'Aap sabka jazba aur mehnat tirangle ki shan ko nayi unchaiyon tak pahuncha raha hai' — 'Your spirit and hard work are lifting the glory of the tricolour to new heights.'

Dhankhar's Javelin Bronze — Haryana's Proud Moment

Of the four medals, it was Sukhchain Dhankhar's bronze in men's javelin throw F55 that drew the most personal warmth from Saini. Haryana has built a formidable identity in Indian athletics — able-bodied and para alike — and a continental podium in the seated-javelin event deepens that story. For a state government that routinely spotlights sporting achievement as a marker of development, Dhankhar's name on the medal table is both a result and a statement.

A Relay of Medals Across Track, Field, and Pool

The four podium finishes span two entirely different sporting worlds — athletics on the track and field, and competitive swimming — which underscores the breadth of India's para sports pipeline. The T35/T38 classification covers athletes with coordination impairments; F55 is for seated field athletes; S13 is for visually impaired swimmers; and SB4 denotes swimmers with severe limb impairment. Four medals, four classifications, four athletes from what appears to be a single session of competition in Japan.

India's Para Sports Momentum at Continental Level

Indian para athletes have recorded steady gains in medal tallies at continental multi-sport events over recent cycles. Chief ministers issuing rapid, name-specific congratulations — rather than generic team shoutouts — has become a visible feature of how state governments connect local pride to national achievement. Saini's post follows that pattern but earns its specificity: each athlete is named, each event is cited, and a Haryana flag is planted without crowding out the national one.

With the Asian Para Games 2026 still ongoing, more results are expected. The question now is whether India can keep this medal cadence alive — and how many more names from Haryana, and beyond, will join the list.