Prime Minister welcomes Indian contingent to Asian Games 2026

Para badminton medal winners with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya and Foreign Minister Raksha Khadse at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex in New Delhi on Thursday. MV coach Murali Krishna is also seen. | Photo credit: ANI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday (November 5, 2026) congratulated the Indian contingent of the 2026 Asian Para Games during a ceremony at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex in New Delhi, where he also congratulated their families, coaches and trainers.

Unlike now with 2010, when India won a total of one gold and 14 medals, Mr. Modi said the contingent won 114 medals in Aichi-Nagoya: 30 gold, 35 silver and 49 bronze. India finished fourth, their best finish at the Games. He said the athletes also set five world records and nine Asian records and that 34 of the 56 women in the team won medals.

Among those present was MV Murali Krishna, a resident of Visakhapatnam and coach of the Indian para badminton team, which won 16 medals: three gold, five silver and eight bronze. “None of the badminton players were from Andhra Pradesh,” he said.

The state had medalists in other sports. Ravanni Valasanaini, a visually impaired runner from Paderu in Alluri Sitharama Raju district, won bronze in women’s 400m and 1500m; Ravi Karthik Budigina of Jangareddygudem in Eluru district won India’s first swimming medal of the Games, a silver in the men’s 100m freestyle and added two more; Ravi Rongali of Anakapalli district took bronze in men’s shot put.

Andhra Pradesh’s medal winners at the 2026 Asian Para Games from left: swimmer Ravi Karthik Budigina, shot putter Ravi Rongali, Visakhapatnam Indian parabadminton team coach MV Murali Krishna, runner Ravanni Valasanaini and her guide Tabres Khan. | Photo credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Mr. Murali Krishna said that success must now be brought to the lowest level. “A lot of transformation has been done at the higher level, but it’s not coming down to the local level,” he said. “As a coach from Visakhapatnam, I felt so bad that India won 16 badminton medals but we failed to produce one badminton player from Andhra Pradesh.

He said the Prime Minister was presented with a memento made by an artisan from Etikoppaka. “He liked it a lot. This is how I want to involve many areas in the sport and grow hand in hand,” he said.

Mr. Murali Krishna, who said that he is serving the national team in an honorary capacity, is offering free coaching to the para athletes at the Swarna Bharathi Indoor Stadium in Visakhapatnam. He prepares a young amputee from Arilov for international events. He said the stadium, which was recently renovated, has no ramp, which prevents wheelchair users from training there.

On his return, he plans to organize local competitions for para-athletes of all ages, using his academies and small contributions from officials and industrialists. His goal, he said, is “one or two representatives” from the district in the national team. He encouraged people with disabilities to contact him and explore a career in para sports.

Published – 06 Nov 2026 20:17 IST