Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Monday praised the State’s para-athletes for what he described as a “historic performance” at the second North East Para Games, held across multiple venues in Guwahati.

The contingent registered one of its strongest displays at a regional para-sporting event, securing the runner-up position in the overall medal standings with a tally of 84 medals, including 23 gold, 31 silver and 30 bronze.

“Heartiest congratulations to Team Arunachal Pradesh for a historic performance at the 2nd North East Para Games 2025, Guwahati! Our para-athletes made the state proud by finishing Runner-Up in the overall medal tally, winning a remarkable 84 medals – 23 Gold, 31 Silver and 30 Bronze,” the Chief Minister said in a post on X.

Calling the medal haul inspirational, Mr Khandu said the results across several disciplines underscore “the courage, talent and unwavering spirit of our Divyangjan sportspersons”. He further commended coaches and the Paralympic Association of Arunachal (PAA) for nurturing emerging talent and strengthening the State’s para-sports ecosystem.

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The Chief Minister reaffirmed his government’s commitment to widening opportunities for para-athletes, noting that the achievements in Guwahati would encourage more young sportspersons across the State to pursue competitive sport.

Organised by the Assam Sports and Youth Affairs Department in collaboration with the Paralympic Committee of India, the North East Para Games brought together para-athletes from all eight Northeastern States. Competitions were held in athletics, swimming, badminton, powerlifting, archery, table tennis, boccia and several other disciplines.

This year’s edition saw substantially higher participation compared with its inaugural outing in 2023, signalling rising interest in para-sports and increasing institutional support across the region. Officials said Arunachal’s second-place finish reflects not only improved performance but also the steady growth of grassroots training initiatives undertaken by the State government and the PAA.

The multi-sport event aims to promote inclusion, strengthen competitive pathways for differently-abled athletes and advance the broader development of para-sports within the Northeast.