Anurag Thakur hails Simran Sharma's double gold at Asian Para Games 2026
Synopsis
Simran Sharma won her second gold at the Asian Para Games 2026, clocking a New Games Record of 12.02s in the Women's 100m T12. BJP MP Anurag Thakur hailed the achievement on 21 October 2026, calling the nation proud of the para-sprinter.
Key Takeaways
Simran Sharma claimed her second gold medal at the Asian Para Games 2026 in the Women's 100m T12 event.
Her winning time of 12.02 seconds set a New Games Record — the fastest in the event's history at the Asian Para Games.
The T12 classification is for athletes with visual impairment who retain some light perception.
BJP MP Anurag Thakur , former Union Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs, publicly congratulated Sharma on 21 October 2026 .
The performance reinforces India's growing para-athletics profile ahead of the next Paralympic cycle.
She did not just win — she rewrote history. Simran Sharma clinched her second gold medal at the Asian Para Games 2026, blazing through the Women's 100m T12 final in a New Games Record of 12.02 seconds, and BJP MP Anurag Thakur was among the first voices from India's political establishment to celebrate the feat on Wednesday, 21 October 2026.
Thakur, a former Union Minister who oversaw the Sports and Youth Affairs portfolio, posted a congratulatory message calling Sharma an 'ace athlete' and declaring, 'The whole nation is proud of you!' The post carried his signature hashtag #Cheer4Bharat — a rallying cry he championed during his tenure to build grassroots momentum around Indian para-athletes and Olympic competitors alike.
Simran Sharma's 12.02s — what a Games Record means
The T12 classification covers athletes with visual impairment who retain some light perception. Running a straight 100 metres with limited vision at 12.02 seconds — fast enough to make most able-bodied club sprinters envious — underlines the extraordinary athleticism the classification demands. Setting a Games Record means no athlete at any prior edition of the Asian Para Games has clocked that time, making Simran Sharma the definitive benchmark in Asia for her event.
'Double Gold, Double Celebrations' is how Thakur framed it — Sharma's earlier gold in the same Games having already announced her arrival at the top of the continental podium before this record-breaking run sealed her status.
Para-sport momentum building for India
India's para-athletics programme has been on a visible upward curve. The Asian Para Games, held under the Asian Paralympic Committee, serve as a critical stepping stone toward the Paralympic Games, where classification performances and world rankings are compiled. A Games Record at this stage is not merely ceremonial — it sends a direct signal to rivals and selectors ahead of the next Paralympic cycle.
Thakur's quick congratulatory post reflects the political and institutional attention India's para-athletes have increasingly commanded. Since the country's breakthrough at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, where India finished with a then-record haul, para-sport has moved from the margins of public discourse to something closer to the centre. Simran Sharma's golden double keeps that momentum very much alive.
One sprinter, two golds, one record — and a nation watching. For Simran Sharma, the Asian Para Games 2026 may well be the chapter that defines everything that comes next.
Point of View
His voice carries institutional weight beyond social media. Simran Sharma's New Games Record in a visually-impaired sprint category arriving mid-Paralympic cycle is precisely the kind of result that shapes selection priority and funding conversations. India's para-sport ecosystem is graduating from inspiration to expectation — and double-gold performances like this are what drive that shift.
NationPress
21 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Simran Sharma the para-athlete?
Simran Sharma is an Indian para-sprinter who competes in the T12 category, which is designated for athletes with visual impairment. She won two gold medals at the Asian Para Games 2026, including a New Games Record of 12.02 seconds in the Women's 100m T12.
What is the T12 classification in para athletics?
T12 is a para-athletics classification for athletes with visual impairment who have some remaining light perception but cannot recognise shapes. Competitors in this class typically race with a guide runner.
What was Simran Sharma's New Games Record at Asian Para Games 2026?
Simran Sharma set a New Games Record of 12.02 seconds in the Women's 100m T12 final at the Asian Para Games 2026, the fastest time ever recorded in that event at the Games.
Why did Anurag Thakur congratulate Simran Sharma?
BJP MP Anurag Thakur, a former Union Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs, congratulated Simran Sharma on 21 October 2026 after she won her second gold medal and set a New Games Record at the Asian Para Games 2026.
What are the Asian Para Games?
The Asian Para Games are a multi-sport event for athletes with disabilities, organised by the Asian Paralympic Committee. They serve as a major continental qualifier and ranking event on the road to the Paralympic Games.
