India enjoyed a memorable day at the Asian Para Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, as Simran Sharma and Pranav Soorma won gold medals in athletics on October 20, with both producing record-breaking performances. Simran won the women’s 200m T12 in 24.80 seconds, matching the Asian Para Games record, while Soorma won the men’s combined F51/52/53 discus throw with an Asian record of 11.66m.
Simran’s victory marked an improvement from her silver medal at the previous edition, while Soorma delivered the record in his first major international competition in the discus event. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated both athletes, describing Simran’s journey as an example of sporting excellence and calling Soorma’s strength, determination and competitive spirit an inspiration.
Simran Claims Sprint Gold
Simran, who has a visual impairment and competes in the T12 classification, produced a powerful run to finish first in the women’s 200m final. Running alongside her guide Shivam, she clocked 24.80 seconds to win gold and match the Asian Para Games record. Iran’s Hajar Safarzadeh finished second in 25.02 seconds, while India’s Tejalben Damor secured bronze in 25.23 seconds, giving the country two places on the podium.
Simran had entered the final after recording 25.22 seconds in the heats. Her gold is particularly significant given that she had won silver in the same event at the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Para Games with a time of 26.12 seconds.
The victory came despite challenges during the competition. Simran, a vegetarian athlete, said limited food options in Japan had made recovery difficult and that she had largely relied on simple meals such as dal and rice. Speaking after her race, she said, “It’s okay. We are Indians.
We push ourselves.” Her performance also came after she began working with a new guide, Shivam, following the end of her earlier partnership with Umar Saifi. The transition required considerable training and adjustment, making her record-equalling victory an important milestone in her comeback.
Soorma Makes Record Debut
Pranav Soorma added another gold to India’s tally in the men’s combined F51/52/53 discus throw. The 32-year-old produced his winning effort of 11.66m with his fourth attempt, setting a new Asian record in the process. Fellow Indian Ram Ratan Singh finished second with 10.35m, giving India a 1-2 finish in the event. The competition combines athletes from different impairment classifications, with the Raza points system used to ensure fair comparisons between performances.
For Soorma, the achievement was especially notable because discus is his secondary event. He had previously won gold in the F51 club throw at the Asian Para Games in China, but this was his first major competition in discus. “It’s a new event for me. I am competing in this event for the first time in such a big event. I am very happy to do my personal best and break the Asian record,”
Soorma said after his victory. He compared the achievement to a batter such as Virat Kohli occasionally bowling and taking a wicket, highlighting how unexpected but rewarding the result was for him.
India’s Medal Momentum
The two victories formed part of a highly successful athletics campaign for India in Aichi-Nagoya. India’s track and field athletes collected five gold, four silver and five bronze medals on the day, taking the athletics tally to 20 medals.
The wider Indian contingent had accumulated 35 medals — nine gold, 11 silver and 15 bronze — by the end of the day, placing India sixth in the overall medal standings. Other notable performances included Nishad Kumar’s second gold of the Games in the men’s T47 high jump, where he cleared 2.04m to set a new Games record.
Simran and Soorma’s performances also underline the depth developing within India’s para-sport programme. Simran is a Paralympic bronze medallist and world champion in the 100m, while Soorma entered the discus competition with an established record in club throw.
Their latest performances show athletes expanding their strengths across events while younger competitors such as Tejalben Damor are also making their presence felt on the international stage.
Official Recognition
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Simran following her gold-medal performance, highlighting her progress from silver at the previous Asian Para Games to gold with a record-breaking performance in 2026. The Prime Minister said her journey “embodies the spirit of excellence” and expressed hope that she would continue to break barriers and set new benchmarks.
Modi also congratulated Soorma, describing his record-breaking gold as an exceptional achievement. The Prime Minister said that setting a new Asian record made the victory even more significant and praised Soorma’s “strength, determination and competitive spirit”, calling them an inspiration.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Simran Sharma and Pranav Soorma’s achievements are more than medal-winning moments; they are reminders of what can happen when athletes are given the opportunity, training and support to compete at the highest level. Their performances also challenge society to look beyond disability and recognise ability, discipline and ambition.
However, celebrating para-athletes should not begin and end with a medal: sustained investment in accessible sporting facilities, specialist coaching, equipment, nutrition and long-term support is essential to ensure more athletes can reach the same stage. As India’s para-athletes continue to make their mark internationally, what more can India do to ensure sporting opportunities are genuinely inclusive for everyone?
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