Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw met with the Indian women's kabaddi team at Rail Bhawan, New Delhi on October 16, 2026, to congratulate them on winning the gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. The team had defeated Iran 37-34 in a closely contested final on September 26, 2026, successfully defending their Asian Games title.
The Minister specifically congratulated Indian Railways' women sportspersons for making the Tricolour proud and bringing laurels to the country through their dedication, determination, and sporting excellence. The team was coached by Neeta Moreshwar Dadwe and captained by Pushpa Rana.
The Railway sportspersons who met the Minister included Head Coach Neeta Moreshwar Dadwe of South Central Railway; Ritu Negi of South Central Railway; Pooja of Northern Railway; Pinky Roy of South Central Railway; and Sonali Vishnu Shingate and Raj Rani of Western Railway.
The document highlights Indian Railways' long record of nurturing sporting talent through the Railway Sports Promotion Board, noting that its sportspersons have represented India at major international competitions including the Olympic Games, World Championships, Asian Games, and Commonwealth Games. Through institutional support and opportunities to pursue sporting careers alongside employment, Indian Railways continues to contribute to the development of sporting talent in the country.