Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, 20 October 2026, congratulated a clutch of Indian para-athletes who earned podium finishes at the Asian Para Games 2026, singling out Baby Sahana Ravi for making history with India's first-ever medal in the standing category at the continental event. The felicitations spanned disciplines including athletics, para-table tennis, powerlifting, shooting and swimming.

Baby Sahana's Historic Bronze

Baby Sahana Ravi won bronze in the women's singles Class 9 para-table tennis event on her debut at the Asian Para Games — a milestone that had eluded India across all previous editions of the competition. Prime Minister Modi described it as 'a moment of immense pride' and expressed confidence it would inspire young athletes across the country. 'Baby Sahana Ravi has created history by winning India's first-ever medal in the standing category at the Asian Para Games! Her bronze in the Women's Singles Class 9 event is all the more remarkable as it comes on her debut,' he wrote in a post on X.

Para-Table Tennis Sweep

Bhavina Patel secured bronze in the women's singles Class 4-5 event, with Prime Minister Modi praising her consistency over the years. Sonalben Patel added another bronze in the women's singles Class 3 event — her first individual medal at the Asian Para Games. Modi called it 'a special moment in her sporting journey, made possible by years of dedication, discipline and hard work.'

Silver for Ashok, Debut Medals for Shrishti and Himanshu

In para-powerlifting, Ashok claimed silver in the men's 65 kg event, drawing praise from the Prime Minister for his perseverance and self-belief. Shooter Shrishti Arora won bronze in the women's 10m air pistol SH1 event on her Asian Para Games debut. In the pool, Himanshu Nandal took bronze in the men's 400m freestyle S11 event, with Modi highlighting his 'effort, endurance and discipline.'

Ravanni Valasanaini's Personal Best on the Track

Athlete Ravanni Valasanaini claimed bronze in the women's 1500m T11 event, setting a personal best in the process. Modi wrote that her performance 'reflects the determination and perseverance that define our para-athletes.' The personal best underscored the rising competitive depth of India's para-athletics contingent at the continental level.

Broader Significance for Indian Para-Sport

India's medal haul at Asian Para Games 2026 spans at least six disciplines — a marker of the broadening talent pool in para-sport. Notably, multiple medals came on athletes' continental debuts, suggesting a new generation is emerging beyond established names. This comes amid a broader push by the Indian government to fund and institutionalise para-athletics pathways. How many of these athletes convert continental podiums into Paralympic medals will be the metric that matters most in the years ahead.