CM Saini congratulates Simran, Tejalben on Asian Para Games medals
Synopsis
Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini congratulated para sprinters Simran and Tejalben Damor after they won gold and bronze respectively in the women's 200m T12 event at the Asian Para Games 2026, calling their achievement a matter of national pride.
Key Takeaways
Simran won gold in the women's 200 metres T12 event at the Asian Para Games 2026 .
Tejalben Damor won bronze in the same event, giving India two podium finishes.
T12 is a para athletics classification for athletes with significant but partial visual impairment.
Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini extended congratulations via X, praising the athletes' hard work and spirit.
The post was tagged #AsianParaGames2026 and #Cheer4Bharat , reflecting an organised visibility push for Indian para sports.
Two Indian para athletes lit up the track at the Asian Para Games 2026, and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini was quick to celebrate them. Simran claimed gold and Tejalben Damor secured bronze in the women's 200 metres T12 event, giving India a memorable double on the same day.
Posting on X in Hindi, CM Saini wrote: 'महिला 200 मीटर T12 स्पर्धा में स्वर्ण पदक जीतने पर Simran और कांस्य पदक हासिल करने पर Tejalben Damor को हार्दिक बधाई!' ('Heartfelt congratulations to Simran for winning gold and to Tejalben Damor for winning bronze in the women's 200m T12 event!'). He added that their 'hard work and spirit are a matter of pride for the country.'
Simran's gold and Tejalben's bronze in the T12 sprint
The T12 classification is designated for athletes with visual impairments who retain a degree of light perception, making sprinting at elite speed a feat of exceptional technique and trust. Winning gold in this category at an Asian-level para competition places Simran among the continent's finest para sprinters. Tejalben Damor's bronze alongside her ensured India finished the event with two athletes on the podium — a rare and emphatic showing.
Para sports visibility and the role of state leaders
Indian chief ministers and senior politicians have increasingly used social media to spotlight para athletes after international competitions — a shift that mirrors growing institutional attention to para sports at both state and central levels. For Haryana, a state with a strong track record of producing Olympic and para champions, such acknowledgements carry particular weight. The hashtags #AsianParaGames2026 and #Cheer4Bharat signal an organised push to build public enthusiasm around the Games.
As India's medal tally at the Asian Para Games 2026 continues to build, the performances of athletes like Simran and Tejalben Damor will be watched closely — both as sporting milestones and as markers of how far the country's para athletics pipeline has come.
Point of View
Deliberate effort by state governments — Haryana especially — to frame para sports excellence as part of regional identity and nation-building. Such social media diplomacy also signals to the sporting ecosystem that official recognition is no longer confined to able-bodied competitions. Sustained political visibility for para athletes, if backed by welfare and infrastructure follow-through, could meaningfully shift the pipeline for future Games.
NationPress
21 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Simran in the Asian Para Games 2026?
Simran is an Indian para athlete who won the gold medal in the women's 200 metres T12 event at the Asian Para Games 2026.
What did Tejalben Damor win at the Asian Para Games 2026?
Tejalben Damor won a bronze medal in the women's 200 metres T12 event at the Asian Para Games 2026.
What is the T12 classification in para athletics?
T12 is a para athletics classification for athletes with visual impairments who retain some degree of light perception, competing in track events.
Why did CM Nayab Singh Saini congratulate Simran and Tejalben Damor?
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini posted congratulations on X after Simran won gold and Tejalben Damor won bronze in the women's 200m T12 at the Asian Para Games 2026.
When are the Asian Para Games 2026 being held?
The Asian Para Games 2026 are underway as of October 2026, with Indian athletes actively competing across multiple events.
