New Delhi, November 5, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged India’s Asian Para Games participants to focus on the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles and work towards maximising the country’s participation and medal tally following their impressive performance at the recently concluded Aichi-Nagoya Para Games.
Modi met the Indian contingent of the 2026 Asian Para Games and interacted with the athletes at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex in New Delhi. While congratulating them on their performance, he encouraged them to treat their success as a stepping stone towards bigger achievements.
“The podium at Aichi-Nagoya is not the final stop of your journey. You must use this success as a launching pad for even greater goals. The next goal for India and most of you is LA 2028. Avani and Manish have already secured their quotas for LA,” the Prime Minister said.
Emphasising the need to increase India’s representation at the Paralympics, Modi said, “Our goal should be that a maximum number of Indian athletes participate in LA 2028 and bring home the maximum number of medals. Therefore, all of you should celebrate this moment to the fullest and, right from now, get busy preparing for what lies ahead.”
He also urged the athletes to celebrate Diwali with pride and enthusiasm while setting targets for their next sporting challenge.
“The grand festival of Diwali has already begun. This time, celebrate Diwali with great pride, joy, and splendour. But during Diwali itself, set the target for your next journey in your mind and step forward with new resolve,” he said.
Referring to his Independence Day address from the Red Fort, Modi said he had called upon the country’s youth to participate in a nationwide talent hunt campaign with the Olympics in mind.
The Prime Minister said sports were not merely about national and international competitions but also served as a powerful medium for personality development and nation-building.
He highlighted the role of sports in teaching young people discipline, team spirit and the ability to overcome defeat. Modi also referred to initiatives aimed at strengthening India’s sports ecosystem, including Khelo India centres and the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), which provides support for athletes preparing for Olympic-level competitions.
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