Visakhapatnam has received national recognition through M.V. Murali Krishna, a para-badminton coach who was among those honoured during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's interaction with India's Asian Para Games 2026 contingent in New Delhi.

The programme was held at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Sports Complex on November 5. The Prime Minister congratulated the athletes for their achievements and acknowledged the contributions of coaches, trainers and family members who supported their preparation.

Murali Krishna played an important role in preparing India's para-badminton team, which delivered an impressive performance at the Games held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.

Indian Para-Badminton Team Wins 16 Medals

India's para-badminton contingent secured a total of 16 medals, comprising:

• Gold: 3

• Silver: 5

• Bronze: 8

The achievement highlighted the performance of Indian para-badminton athletes at the international event and the contribution of their coaching and support teams.

Vizag Coach Calls for Grassroots Development

Murali Krishna, who has dedicated years to coaching para-badminton players, emphasised the need to strengthen the sport at the grassroots level.

He expressed concern that despite India's strong performance at the international level, Andhra Pradesh did not have a representative among the para-badminton medal winners.

He believes that greater access to coaching, training facilities and local competitions could help identify and develop talented para-athletes from Visakhapatnam and other parts of the State.

Free Coaching and Support for Para-Athletes

The Visakhapatnam-based coach has also been involved in providing free coaching to para-athletes at Swarna Bharathi Indoor Stadium.

He has been working to encourage persons with disabilities to explore opportunities in para-sports and develop their abilities through structured training.

His efforts highlight the importance of accessible sports infrastructure and community-level support in creating opportunities for aspiring para-athletes.

Recognition for Visakhapatnam's Sporting Community

Murali Krishna's recognition at the national-level felicitation programme brings attention to the contribution of coaches working behind the scenes to prepare international athletes.

His call for stronger grassroots development also highlights an important opportunity for Andhra Pradesh to build a stronger para-sports ecosystem and encourage more athletes from the State to compete at national and international levels.