PM Modi’s Boost: Para-Athletes Eye Historic Haul at LA 2028 Paralympics
PCI President Devendra Jhajharia and Coach Satyanarayana express confidence for a historic performance at the LA 2028 Paralympic Games.
In a powerful gesture of support and motivation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently interacted with India's Asian Para Games 2026 contingent at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex in New Delhi. The encounter has left the sporting community energized, with the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) president Devendra Jhajharia and head coach KR Satyanarayana expressing absolute confidence that India is on track for a landmark performance at the LA 2028 Paralympic Games.
A Transformation in Performance
During the interaction, Prime Minister Modi congratulated the athletes for their historic achievement at the Aichi-Nagoya games, where India secured a record-breaking 114 medals, placing fourth in the overall medal tally. The Prime Minister highlighted the dramatic evolution of India's para-sports trajectory, noting that while the country won only one gold medal in the 2010 Asian Para Games, that number surged to 30 gold medals by 2026.
PCI President Devendra Jhajharia credited this transformation to systemic government support. He pointed toward key initiatives such as the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), the Khelo India Para Games, and the significant upgrading of facilities at the NSCI Training Centre as the primary drivers behind the recent medal surge.
"Whenever the PM meets our para-athletes, it fills them with great enthusiasm," Jhajharia stated. "He told them that they have made the 140 crore Indians proud."
Eyes on Los Angeles 2028
The focus has now shifted decisively toward the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics. Jhajharia emphasized that the era of last-minute preparation is over, revealing that the groundwork for LA 2028 began three years ago. He asserted that the dedication shown by the government in providing world-class facilities will lead to a historic showing in the United States.
Adding to this optimism, head coach KR Satyanarayana, who has met the Prime Minister six times since the 2016 Rio Paralympics, noted that the PM's involvement has fundamentally changed how para-athletes are perceived in India. He remarked that Paralympic sports have gained immense visibility and respect across the country, fueled by media and social media recognition.
Ambitious Medal Targets
Coach Satyanarayana is eyeing a significant jump in the medal count. While India secured 29 medals in the previous Paralympics, he believes the tally will rise to at least 35 for the LA Games, with a higher proportion of gold medals. He specifically mentioned that several Indian athletes are now capable of winning multiple medals in a single event.
Satyanarayana also expressed satisfaction with the government's integration of sports programs into schools, a long-held dream of his to ensure a steady pipeline of talent.
Recapping the Asian Para Games Success
India's recent success at the Asian Para Games 2026 serves as a blueprint for future victories. The country finished with a total of 114 medals, comprising:
- Gold: 30
- Silver: 35
- Bronze: 49
Remarkably, this feat was achieved with a leaner contingent of 168 para-athletes, compared to the 309 who competed in the 2022 Hangzhou edition. Highlighting the campaign were stellar performances in para-badminton, where Nitesh Kumar secured gold in the men's singles SL3 final, and Thulasimathi Murugesan and Manasi Joshi won the women's doubles SL3-SU5 title. In para-archery, the duo of Harvinder Singh and Vijay Sundi also clinched gold in the men's recurve doubles.