Patna, August 2026: Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on Saturday felicitated the state’s para-athlete medal winners at the Commonwealth Games 2026, honouring their outstanding performances on the occasion of National Sports Day.
The felicitation ceremony was held at the ‘Sankalp’ auditorium at Lok Sevak Awas. The Chief Minister presented a cheque of Rs 30 lakh to Bihar’s para-athlete Soman Rana for winning the gold medal in the men’s F57 shot put event at the Commonwealth Games 2026. He also presented Rs 15 lakh to Jhandu Kumar, who won a bronze medal in men’s para powerlifting.
Along with the prize money, the two athletes were presented with angavastrams and mementos in recognition of their achievements. Choudhary also interacted with both athletes, learned about their experiences and congratulated them for their remarkable performances.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said the athletes had not only enhanced the pride of the country through their impressive performances but had also brought honour to Bihar on the national and international sporting stage.
“Honouring you is a matter of pride for all of us,” the Chief Minister said, congratulating the athletes for their achievements.
Choudhary said the Bihar government was committed to supporting talented sportspersons and providing them with better training, facilities and encouragement so that they could further develop their abilities and compete successfully at national and international levels.
He said the achievements of Bihar’s athletes would inspire the state’s youth to take up sports and work towards winning medals for the country. The government, he added, would extend all possible support and recognition to talented athletes from the state to enable them to showcase their abilities on bigger platforms.
The Chief Minister stressed that athletes require continuous access to quality training and sporting infrastructure to perform at the highest level. He said the state government was committed to creating a supportive ecosystem in which promising sportspersons could receive the necessary resources and opportunities to excel.
Soman Rana’s gold medal in men’s F57 shot put and Jhandu Kumar’s bronze in para powerlifting were described as significant achievements for Bihar’s sporting community. Their success has also highlighted the potential of para-athletes from the state and is expected to encourage more young people to pursue competitive sports.
The Chief Minister congratulated both medal winners and wished them continued success in their sporting careers. He said Bihar’s talented athletes would receive every possible assistance and honour so that they could continue to bring laurels to the state and the country.
Senior officials present at the event included Chief Minister’s Principal Secretary Deepak Kumar, Chief Minister’s Secretary Lokesh Kumar Singh, Chief Minister’s Secretary Sanjay Kumar Singh, Sports Department Secretary Deepak Anand, Bihar State Sports Authority Director General Ravindra Shankar, coach Gautam, and other senior government officials.
The felicitation marked the state government’s recognition of the achievements of Bihar’s para-athletes and its commitment to promoting sporting talent across the state.
