A Second Medal For Simran Sharma! Indian Sprinter Claims Bronze Medal In Women's 200m T12 Final

New Delhi - Indian para-athlete Simran Sharma has added another medal to her impressive tally, claiming the bronze in the Women's 200m T12 final at a major international competition. This achievement follows her recent gold medal in the 100m T12 event at the World Para Athletics Championships, marking a significant milestone in her career.

The 25-year-old, competing in front of a home crowd, continues to demonstrate her exceptional talent and resilience on the world stage. Sharma competes in the T12 category, designated for athletes with visual impairment. Athletes in this category generally have some residual sight, with the ability to recognize the shape of a hand at a distance of 2 meters, but the ability to perceive clearly will be no more than 2/60. T12 athletes commonly run with guides.

Sharma, guided by Umar Saifi, has shown remarkable consistency and improvement throughout the competition. Previously, she secured a bronze medal at the 2024 Paralympics in Paris in the 200m event. In the 100m T12, she was disqualified from the 2024 Para World Championships in Kobe and finished fourth at the 2024 Paralympics.

Born prematurely with visual impairment, Sharma spent the first six months of her life in an incubator. Encouraged by her father, Manoj Sharma, she pursued sports and trains at the SAI JLN Stadium in New Delhi. She is married to her coach, Naik Gajendra Singh.

"This is my home ground, and I practice here only. So, this is the best result that could have happened to me," Sharma stated after her 100m victory. Her journey has been marked by perseverance, and she has become an inspiration for aspiring athletes across India.

India has secured a total of 15 medals so far at the event, including six gold, five silver, and four bronze. Sharma's achievements, along with those of other Indian para-athletes like Nishad Kumar, have propelled India to fourth place in the medal table.