New guide, new glory! Simran storms for gold as Tejalben adds bronze at Asian Para Games

NEW DELHI: India’s Simran scripted a golden comeback at the 2026 Asian Para Games, setting a new Games record to win the women’s 200m T12 title with her new guide Shivam, while compatriot Tejalben Damor added a bronze to complete a memorable outing for the country on Tuesday.Simran, 26, clocked 24.80 seconds to win her first gold at the continental showpiece, finishing ahead of Iran’s Hajar Safarzadeh, who took silver in 25.02 seconds. Tejalben, making her debut at the Asian Para Games, secured bronze with a time of 25.23 seconds.The T12 classification is for athletes with moderate visual impairment.

After a difficult transition, Simran shines with a new guide

Paris 2024 Paralympics bronze medalist Simran has resumed her campaign with Shivam after her previous guide Umar Saifi was banned for a doping violation.She won silver in the same event in 2023 in Hangzhou, making Tuesday’s record-breaking performance a major milestone in her comeback.However, Simran admitted that fatigue and recovery issues affected her preparations. Her Asian personal best of 24.46 seconds remained out of reach but she was delighted to secure the gold.“My body didn’t feel good, I actually felt tense because the recovery wasn’t great. I was very tired after my hot race,” she said.The sprinter also spoke about the challenge of finding suitable vegetarian food at the Games and added with characteristic humour, “Otherwise even we Indians can run by force of will.”Simran will next compete in the women’s 100, an event in which she won silver in the previous edition.

Tejalben’s bronze boosts confidence ahead of the 400m

Tejalben’s podium finish provided further impetus to India’s medal campaign. The 24-year-old said her journey was influenced by the financial difficulties her family faced and that she arrived with considerable determination.“My parents have struggled financially most of my life and I would even die to get a medal,” she said.The bronze boosted her confidence in front of the four hundred women, which she considers her strongest event.“My next race is the 400m and that is my best event and this medal has given me a lot of confidence for this event,” Tejalben added.With Simran’s gold and Tejalben’s bronze, India enjoyed a double podium finish in the women’s 200m T12, underscoring the country’s growing strength in para-athletics.