NEW DELHI: India's Simran scripted a golden comeback at the Asian Para Games 2026, 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.
The 26-year-old Simran clocked 24.80 seconds to claim her maiden 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.
Simran shines with new guide after difficult transition
A bronze medallist at the 2024 Paris Paralympics, Simran has been rebuilding her campaign with Shivam after her previous guide, Umar Saifi, was banned for a doping violation.
She had won silver in the same event at the 2023 Hangzhou edition, making Tuesday's record-breaking performance a significant milestone in her comeback.
Simran, however, admitted that fatigue and recovery issues had affected her preparations. Her personal Asian record of 24.46 seconds remained beyond reach, but she was delighted to secure the gold.
"My body was not feeling good, in fact, it felt tight because the recovery has not been great.
I was very tired after my heat race," she said.
The sprinter also spoke about the challenge of finding suitable vegetarian food at the Games, adding with characteristic humour: "Otherwise, we Indians can run on willpower too."
Simran will next compete in the women's 100m, an event in which she won silver at the previous edition.
Tejalben's bronze boosts confidence ahead of 400m
Tejalben's podium finish provided another boost to India's medal campaign. The 24-year-old said her journey had been shaped by financial hardships faced by her family and that she had arrived with considerable determination.
"My parents have struggled financially for most of their lives and I would even die to get a medal," she said.
The bronze has strengthened her confidence ahead of the women's 400m, which she considers her strongest event.
"My next race is 400m and that is my best event and this medal has given me a lot of confidence for that event," Tejalben added.
With Simran's gold and Tejalben's bronze, India enjoyed a double-podium finish in the women's 200m T12, highlighting the country's growing strength in para-athletics.