Tamil Nadu CM announces ₹30 lakh each for Asian Para Games bronze medallists
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Tuesday congratulated para table tennis players Jehan Dorab Madan and Sahana Ravi on winning bronze medals for India at the 5th Asian Para Games 2026 in Japan.
In a post on X, Mr. Vijay said Mr. Madan won the bronze in the men’s singles Class 1 category and Ms. Ravi won the bronze in the women’s Class 9 category. Both athletes are from Tamil Nadu and represented India at the continental multi-sport event for athletes with disabilities.
The Chief Minister said the Tamil Nadu government would award an incentive of ₹30 lakh each to the two players in recognition of their achievements. The announcement was made in the same post, which also conveyed the State government’s appreciation for their performances.
The Asian Para Games are held in the same cycle as the Asian Games and bring together athletes from across the continent. The 5th edition is being held in Japan. Para table tennis uses a classification system that groups athletes according to functional ability so that competition remains fair across different levels of disability. Madan competed in Class 1, while Ravi competed in Class 9.
Para table tennis classifications cover wheelchair and standing categories. The system is designed to ensure that athletes with different types and degrees of impairment compete against others with comparable functional ability. This allows the focus to remain on skill, strategy and sporting performance.
The medals add to Tamil Nadu’s presence in para sports. State governments in India have increasingly announced cash incentives for athletes who win medals at international events, including the Paralympics, Asian Para Games and Commonwealth Games. Such incentives are intended to support athletes and encourage greater participation in disability sports.
The post did not specify a timeline for the disbursement of the ₹30 lakh incentive. There was no immediate further detail from the State government on the process. The announcement, however, marks official recognition of the two players’ success at the Asian Para Games.
The achievements of Madan and Ravi also highlight the growing visibility of para athletes in Tamil Nadu and across India. Their bronze medals at the Asian Para Games place them among the State’s medal winners at a major international event for athletes with disabilities.
