Para Asian Games 2026: Simran Sharma Strikes Gold, Tejalben Damor Grabs Bronze
Simran Sharma clinches gold and Tejalben Damor takes bronze in the T12 category at the Para Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya.
India's athletic prowess was on full display at the Para Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, as the nation secured a dominant double-podium finish in the T12 category. In a thrilling race on Tuesday, Simran Sharma surged ahead to claim the gold medal, while teammate Tejalben Damor added to the glory by securing a bronze.
Simran Sharma Dominates the Track
Simran Sharma delivered a powerhouse performance to seize the top spot on the podium. Clocking an impressive time of 24.80 seconds, Simran outpaced the competition to ensure the gold medal returned to India. The race was tightly contested, with Iran's Hajjar Safarzadeh pushing Simran until the end, finishing second with a time of 25.02 seconds—trailing the champion by a mere 0.22 seconds.
Tejalben Damor Sets Personal Best
Adding to the celebration, Tejalben Damor showcased exceptional form to finish third. Damor clocked 25.23 seconds, not only securing the bronze medal for India but also recording a new personal best. Following the Indian duo, China's Yaqin Shen finished in fourth place with a timing of 26.49 seconds.
India's Rising Medal Tally
These stellar performances on the track have significantly boosted India's standing in the games. With the addition of these two medals, India's overall haul has climbed to 26 medals, consisting of:
- Gold: 6
- Silver: 8
- Bronze: 12
Success in the Pool: Himanshu Nandal Wins Bronze
The winning streak for India extended beyond the track and into the swimming pool. Para-swimmer Himanshu Nandal secured a bronze medal in the men's 400m freestyle S11 category. Finishing with a time of 5:10.91, Himanshu claimed the third spot in a competitive four-man final.
The gold in the swimming event went to China's Chuanzhen Sun, who set a new Asian record, while Japan's Uchu Tomita took the silver, finishing 32 seconds ahead of Nandal. Himanshu's achievement marks India's second medal in para-swimming during this edition of the games.