PM Modi meets Asian Para Games 2026 medallists, eyes 2028 LA Paralympics glory
Synopsis
PM Modi sat down with India's Asian Para Games 2026 contingent — including gold medallist Pranav Soorma, who overcame a severe spinal injury, and silver medallist Ashok Kumar Malik — and personally motivated each athlete for the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics. The meeting, filled with individual anecdotes including a churma exchange, signals the Centre's deepening commitment to para-sports as India builds toward LA.
Key Takeaways
PM Narendra Modi met India's Asian Para Games 2026 contingent in New Delhi on 5 November 2026 .
Pranav Soorma , who survived a severe spinal injury, won gold in the men's discus throw F51/52/53 event at the Games held in Aichi-Nagoya .
Ashok Kumar Malik claimed silver in men's 65kg Para powerlifting ; the PM personally encouraged him and asked him to share churma with fellow athletes.
The PM encouraged all athletes to begin preparation for the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles and pledged continued government support.
Athletes including Shubham Wadhwa , Swati Chaudhary , Ayush Verma , Suvarna Raj , and Bhavna Chaudhary were among those present at the interaction.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, 5 November 2026 met India's contingent from the Asian Para Games 2026 at New Delhi, drawing an outpouring of gratitude and renewed determination from para-athletes who described the interaction as deeply motivating. The PM used the meeting to encourage the athletes toward the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles, signalling the government's continued support for para-sports.
Athletes Share What the PM Said
Para-table tennis player Shubham Wadhwa, who excelled at the Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya, said the meeting fulfilled a long-held aspiration. 'Every athlete dreams of getting the chance to meet the Prime Minister after winning a medal, and today that dream of mine has come true. Prime Minister gave us very positive thoughts and extended immense support to us today. He encouraged us greatly for the upcoming games, including the 2028 LA Olympics. He gave us confidence that we will receive even more support, which has filled us with positivity. The Prime Minister's support has played a very significant role in the medals I have won today,' Wadhwa said.
Para-athlete Swati Chaudhary, who was part of the interaction although unable to hold a direct one-on-one conversation with the PM, said she still found the experience profoundly uplifting. 'The meeting itself was wonderful. It brings immense joy to meet him and instils a deep sense of pride, which serves as great motivation for the future... The Honourable Prime Minister's vision and thoughts regarding sports provide immense encouragement, not just for able-bodied athletes, but for para-athletes as well,' she said.
Gold Medallist Pranav Soorma on Meeting Modi
Pranav Soorma, who survived a severe spinal injury and went on to claim gold in the men's discus throw F51/52/53 event at the Asian Para Games 2026, described the encounter as a milestone moment. 'When you return victorious from such a massive platform, there is always immense excitement about getting the opportunity to meet the Prime Minister of the country. Today was that fortunate day when the Honourable Prime Minister gave us his valuable time, interacted with all the athletes, and gave us so much encouragement and motivation so that we continue to work hard and make the nation proud on even larger international stages,' Soorma said.
A Personal Touch from the PM
Powerlifter Ashok Kumar Malik, who claimed silver in the men's 65kg Para powerlifting event, recalled a particularly warm exchange. 'It was a wonderful interaction. My event took place two days ago, and when I spoke with Sir, he told me, "You are truly very fortunate." Hearing those words filled me with genuine joy. He encouraged us to keep moving forward and start preparing for the LA Games. He also told me to share the churma I brought with all my fellow athletes, which brought us so much happiness,' Malik said.
Others present at the meeting included para-athletes Ayush Verma, Suvarna Raj, and archer Bhavna Chaudhary, all of whom participated in the recently concluded Asian Para Games 2026.
India's Para-Sports Ambition and the Road to 2028
The interaction underscores a broader push by the Centre to position India as a force in para-sports ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympic Games. Notably, Soorma's journey — from a debilitating spinal injury to an international gold — has emerged as one of the most compelling narratives from the Games. The PM's visible engagement with individual athlete stories, including Malik's churma anecdote, reflects a deliberate effort to personalise institutional support for para-sports. All athletes described leaving the meeting energised to train harder and represent India on the world stage.
Point of View
Optics matter. For years, India's para contingent operated in relative institutional invisibility; direct Prime Ministerial attention changes that dynamic in ways budget allocations alone cannot. The challenge now is whether the warmth of this interaction translates into structural improvements: better classification support, training infrastructure, and consistent selection processes ahead of LA 2028. India's para-sports ecosystem has grown significantly, but it remains dependent on individual resilience — Soorma's journey being the starkest proof — rather than systemic pipeline development. That is the accountability question this meeting raises but does not yet answer.
NationPress
6 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did PM Modi meet India's Asian Para Games 2026 athletes?
PM Modi met the athletes on 5 November 2026 in New Delhi to congratulate them on their performances at the Asian Para Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya and to motivate them for the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles. The interaction was described by athletes as deeply encouraging and personally uplifting.
Who is Pranav Soorma and what did he win at the Asian Para Games 2026?
Pranav Soorma is an Indian para-athlete who survived a severe spinal injury and won gold in the men's discus throw F51/52/53 event at the Asian Para Games 2026. He described his meeting with PM Modi as a milestone moment in his sporting journey.
What did PM Modi tell the para-athletes about the 2028 LA Games?
PM Modi encouraged the athletes to begin preparing for the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles and assured them of continued government support. Para-table tennis player Shubham Wadhwa said the PM gave them confidence that they would receive even more backing going forward.
Which para-athletes were present at the meeting with PM Modi?
Athletes present included para-table tennis player Shubham Wadhwa, para-athletes Swati Chaudhary, Ayush Verma, Suvarna Raj, archer Bhavna Chaudhary, discus thrower Pranav Soorma, and powerlifter Ashok Kumar Malik, among others from the Asian Para Games 2026 contingent.
What is the significance of India's performance at the Asian Para Games 2026?
The Asian Para Games 2026, held in Aichi-Nagoya, served as a key performance benchmark for India's para-sports community ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics. The government's high-level recognition of the athletes signals a broader push to build India's para-sports pipeline at an international level.
