New Delhi, 20 October (H.S.): President Droupadi Murmu and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday congratulated Indian athletes who won medals at the 2026 Asian Para Games, including Bhavina Patel, who secured bronze in women’s singles Class 4–5 table tennis; Sonalben Patel, who won her first singles bronze in women’s Class 3 para table tennis; Praveen Sharma, who claimed bronze in the men’s F11 shot put; and Deepti Jeevanji, who won gold in the women’s 400-metre T20 event.

In a message posted on X, President Murmu congratulated the athletes on their achievements and expressed hope that their performances would inspire them to reach greater heights.

Addressing Bhavina Patel, the President said she hoped the achievement would give fresh momentum to her sporting journey and encourage her to continue setting ambitious goals.

Describing the medal as a significant milestone in Sonalben Patel’s career, Murmu expressed hope that her success would inspire other emerging table tennis players to pursue their dreams with confidence.

The President said winning a medal at his very first Asian Para Games was a special achievement for Praveen Sharma. She expressed hope that the experience would strengthen his dedication to sport and bring renewed enthusiasm to his future endeavours.

Congratulating Deepti Jeevanji, Murmu said that setting a new Games record and successfully defending her title made the gold-medal victory even more remarkable. She added that Deepti’s outstanding performance had made the entire country proud.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla also congratulated Deepti on her achievement, describing it as a magnificent gold-medal victory for India. He noted that she had successfully defended her title by setting a new Games record of 56.36 seconds in the women’s 400-metre T20 event. Birla said her exceptional performance was a source of pride for the entire nation.

Praveen Sharma, a 19-year-old Indian para-athlete, brought honour to the country by winning bronze in the men’s F11 shot put at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games. Making his debut at the continental event, Sharma produced a personal-best throw of 13.86 metres in his final attempt to secure third place.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar