India's flag bearer at the Asian Para Games 2026, Simran Sharma, produced a blistering run to win gold in the women's 200m T12 event in Nagoya on Monday. Simran clocked 24.80 seconds to equal the Asian Para Games record, set by Iran's Hajar Safarzadeh earlier in the heats, as India added their 7th gold medal to its tally.

Running alongside her guide, Shivam, Simran delivered a powerful performance in the final to finish ahead of Safarzadeh, who clocked 25.02 seconds to settle for silver. India's Tejalben Damor completed the podium with bronze.

The victory came despite Simran struggling with fatigue and recovery during her stay in Japan. The vegetarian sprinter revealed that the limited variety of food available to her had made it difficult to maintain her usual diet. She had been relying on simple meals of daal and rice to keep herself going through the competition.

Asked about pushing through the challenges, Simran offered a characteristically straightforward response.

"It's okay. We are Indians. We push ourselves," she told reporters after the race.

WHO IS SIMRAN SHARMA?

Born prematurely with a visual impairment, Simran has faced significant challenges throughout her life. Her journey in athletics unfolded alongside difficult circumstances at home, including her father's prolonged illness and eventual death.

Her father, Manoj Sharma, remained a source of inspiration even while battling health problems. Her mother took care of the household and supported the family through difficult times. Those early experiences helped shape Simran's determination to pursue athletics despite the obstacles in her path.

Simran first displayed her sporting ability at school, where she competed in several events and won medals. However, financial constraints made it difficult for her to access quality coaching and training facilities.

Things began to change when she met Gajender Singh, an Army soldier and fellow athlete who recognised her potential. Gajender became her coach and later her husband, supporting her athletic ambitions both emotionally and financially. His belief in her abilities played an important role in her development as a para-athlete.

One of the defining moments of Simran's career came at the 2019 World Para Athletics Championships. She competed at the event while dealing with uncertainty over her father's health. Shortly after she returned, her father passed away. Simran channelled her grief into her sporting ambitions, determined to honour his memory through her performances.

She subsequently qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, taking another significant step in her international career.

Since then, Simran has continued to establish herself among India's leading para-athletes. At the Asian Para Games in Nagoya, she carried the responsibility of being India's flag bearer before adding another milestone to her career with gold in the 200m T12 event.

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