PM Modi hails Deepthi Jeevanji's games record, praises Indian Para Games medallists
Synopsis
Deepthi Jeevanji didn't just defend her Asian Para Games title in the women's 400m T20 — she broke the games record doing it. PM Modi personally congratulated seven Indian medallists on X, including a historic first for para table tennis and a debut bronze in javelin, painting a picture of a para-sports programme that is broadening and deepening at the same time.
Key Takeaways
Deepthi Jeevanji won gold in the women's 400m T20 at the Asian Para Games 2026 , defending her title with a games record .
Manish Narwal claimed silver in the men's 10m air pistol SH1 event.
Pradeep Kumar secured his second consecutive Asian Para Games silver in the men's javelin throw F53/54 with a personal best; debutant Ayush Verma won bronze in the same event.
Praveen Sharma won bronze in the men's shot put F11 event.
Prachi Pandey became the first Indian to medal in women's singles Class 6 para table tennis at the Asian Para Games, winning bronze on debut.
Jehan Dorab Madan added bronze in the men's singles Class 1 para table tennis event.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, 20 October 2026 congratulated Indian para-athletes for their medal-winning performances at the Asian Para Games 2026, singling out Deepthi Jeevanji's games record-breaking gold for special praise. Modi posted individual congratulatory messages on X for each medallist, reflecting the government's sustained emphasis on para-sports recognition.
Deepthi Jeevanji Defends Title With a Games Record
Deepthi Jeevanji won gold in the women's 400m T20 event, successfully defending her title while also setting a games record — a rare double achievement that Modi described as the hallmark of a true champion. "A champion who keeps redefining excellence! Deepthi Jeevanji has once again won gold in the women's 400m T20 at the Asian Para Games, defending her title with a phenomenal Games record. To retain a title while improving one's performance is a remarkable accomplishment indeed. She has demonstrated the true spirit of a champion. Her success will inspire countless young athletes. My best wishes," the Prime Minister wrote on X.
Shooting and Javelin Throw Yield More Medals
Manish Narwal claimed silver in the men's 10m air pistol SH1 event. Modi wrote: "Manish Narwal has delivered an impressive performance to win Silver in the Men's 10m Air Pistol SH1 event at the Asian Para Games 2026 with an impressive score. Manish continues to distinguish himself through his focus and commitment. Congratulations and best wishes for the endeavours ahead."
In the men's javelin throw F53/54 event, Pradeep Kumar claimed silver with a personal best — his second consecutive Asian Para Games silver in the discipline. Debutant Ayush Verma also recorded a personal best to win bronze in the same event. Modi called Verma's podium finish a "memorable debut" and urged him to build on the achievement.
Shot Put Bronze and Historic Para Table Tennis Milestones
Praveen Sharma took bronze in the men's shot put F11 event. Modi highlighted Sharma's "courage, preparation and dedication" in his congratulatory post on X.
Para table tennis produced two landmark results. Prachi Pandey became the first Indian to win a medal in the women's singles Class 6 event at the Asian Para Games, clinching bronze on her debut. Modi called it "a historic first for Indian Para Table Tennis" and a "pathbreaking achievement." Jehan Dorab Madan added another bronze in the men's singles Class 1 event, further deepening India's footprint in the sport at the continental para stage.
India's Broader Para-Sports Trajectory
The performances across shooting, athletics, and table tennis underscore India's growing depth in para-sports, a trend that has accelerated since the country's strong showings at the Tokyo and Paris Paralympic Games. Notably, multiple medallists at these Asian Para Games registered personal bests, signalling a squad that is still improving rather than peaking. The government's direct acknowledgement from the Prime Minister's office adds institutional visibility to athletes who have historically received less public attention than their Olympic counterparts.
With India's para-sports programme continuing to expand, all eyes will be on how these performances translate into qualification and preparation cycles ahead of the next Paralympic Games.
Point of View
And Indian athletics still doesn't quite know how to build a commercial ecosystem around a talent of that order. The historic para table tennis result from Prachi Pandey on debut also deserves more than a congratulatory tweet — it marks a structural widening of India's medal-winning base beyond the traditional athletics and shooting strongholds. Whether the government's attention converts into sustained infrastructure investment, or stays at the level of social-media acknowledgement, will define how far this generation of para-athletes goes.
NationPress
20 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Deepthi Jeevanji achieve at the Asian Para Games 2026?
Deepthi Jeevanji won gold in the women's 400m T20 event at the Asian Para Games 2026, successfully defending her title and setting a new games record in the process. PM Modi praised her performance as the mark of a true champion who improves even while retaining a title.
How many Indian athletes did PM Modi congratulate at the Asian Para Games 2026?
PM Modi congratulated at least seven Indian para-athletes individually on X: Deepthi Jeevanji (gold, 400m T20), Manish Narwal (silver, 10m air pistol SH1), Pradeep Kumar (silver, javelin F53/54), Ayush Verma (bronze, javelin F53/54), Praveen Sharma (bronze, shot put F11), Prachi Pandey (bronze, para table tennis women's singles Class 6), and Jehan Dorab Madan (bronze, para table tennis men's singles Class 1).
Who is Prachi Pandey and why is her medal historic?
Prachi Pandey became the first Indian to win a medal in the women's singles Class 6 event in para table tennis at the Asian Para Games. She won bronze on her debut at the Games, making her achievement a landmark milestone for Indian para table tennis.
What is the significance of Pradeep Kumar's silver at the Asian Para Games 2026?
Pradeep Kumar's silver in the men's javelin throw F53/54 is his second consecutive Asian Para Games silver in the event, and he achieved it with a personal best. It underlines his consistency and improving performance trajectory over successive editions of the Games.
How does India's performance at the Asian Para Games 2026 reflect broader para-sports growth?
India's medal haul across athletics, shooting, and para table tennis — with multiple personal bests and at least one historic first — reflects an expanding depth in para-sports that has accelerated since the country's strong showings at the Tokyo and Paris Paralympic Games. The breadth of events in which India is now competitive signals a growing talent pipeline beyond traditional strongholds.
