Asian Para Games 2026: Tejalben Damor wins bronze in women's 200m T12 at Nagoya
Synopsis
A visually impaired 24-year-old from Dahod, Gujarat, walked onto the continental stage for the first time and walked off with a bronze — and a personal best. Tejalben Damor's 200m T12 podium at the Asian Para Games 2026 in Nagoya is not just a medal; it is the first chapter of a story that has a 400m final still to come.
Key Takeaways
Tejalben Amraji Damor won bronze in the women's 200m T12 at the Asian Para Games 2026 in Nagoya on 20 October 2026 .
The 24-year-old Gujarat sprinter set a personal best of 25.25 seconds , bettering her previous mark of 25.47 seconds .
This was her debut at the Asian Para Games; she finished sixth at the World Para Athletics Championships in 2025 .
She trains at SAI NCoE Gandhinagar and received ₹2,05,961 in government support under the ACTC .
Her primary event, the women's 400m T12 , is still to come at the Games.
Indian para-athlete Tejalben Amraji Damor clinched a bronze medal in the women's 200m T12 event at the Asian Para Games 2026 in Nagoya on Tuesday, 20 October 2026, crediting sheer determination and a gruelling training regimen for her podium finish on her continental debut. The 24-year-old visually impaired sprinter from Gujarat also set a personal best in the process.
'We came here with great expectations, immense hard work and a strong determination to win. My journey has involved a lot of struggle, but I was determined that whatever the difficulties, I had to return with a medal,' Tejalben said after the event.
A Personal Best on the Continental Stage
Tejalben, who trains at the Sports Authority of India's National Centre of Excellence (SAI NCoE) in Gandhinagar, clocked 25.25 seconds in the heats — finishing second in her heat to qualify for the final. The timing surpassed her previous personal best of 25.47 seconds, which she had set while winning gold at the Dubai Para Athletics Grand Prix in September 2026. Notably, this was her first appearance at the Asian Para Games, making the podium finish all the more significant.
The Coach Behind the Medal
Tejalben was emphatic in attributing much of her success to her coach's unrelenting commitment, singling him out before any other acknowledgement.
'First of all, I want to thank my coach. There has been tremendous hard work and discipline behind this medal. Even when Sunday was supposed to be a rest day, my coach never allowed our training to suffer. If we had a training session scheduled, he would be there. I want to thank him before anyone else,' she said.
A Journey That Began in 2022
Hailing from Dahod in Gujarat, Tejalben launched her para-athletics career in 2022 and has progressed steadily on both national and international circuits. She finished sixth at the World Para Athletics Championships in 2025, before winning gold at the National Championships in 2026 and subsequently at the Dubai Para Athletics Grand Prix. Her preparations have been bolstered by structured coaching at SAI NCoE Gandhinagar as well as financial assistance of ₹2,05,961 extended by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports under the Annual Calendar for Training and Competition (ACTC).
Next Up: The 400m T12
With her primary discipline — the women's 400m T12 — still to come at the Games, Tejalben views the 200m bronze as a launchpad. 'My main event is the 400 metres, which is coming up next. My coach and I believed that winning a medal in the 200 metres would give us greater confidence for the 400 metres. Now, with this medal, I feel even more confident about giving my best in my main event,' she added.
An Aspiration Beyond the Track
Away from competitive ambition, Tejalben has spoken of her desire to establish a dedicated running track for visually impaired children in Dahod, with the aim of expanding athletic opportunities for the next generation of para-athletes in her region. Her medal at Nagoya adds fresh momentum to that larger mission.
Point of View
Long overshadowed by the Olympic programme, is producing athletes capable of continental podiums on debut. The SAI NCoE model and ACTC financial support clearly made a structural difference here — but the story also surfaces a gap: a para-athlete of this calibre from Dahod still dreams of a basic running track for visually impaired children in her own district. That aspiration, voiced after a medal ceremony, is an accountability marker for policymakers. The 400m T12 final will be the real test of whether this bronze was a ceiling or a floor.
NationPress
20 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Tejalben Damor and what did she win at the Asian Para Games 2026?
Tejalben Amraji Damor is a 24-year-old visually impaired para-sprinter from Dahod, Gujarat. She won a bronze medal in the women's 200m T12 event at the Asian Para Games 2026 in Nagoya on 20 October 2026, her first appearance at the continental games.
What personal best did Tejalben Damor set at the Asian Para Games?
Tejalben clocked 25.25 seconds in the 200m T12 heats at Nagoya, a personal best that bettered her previous mark of 25.47 seconds set at the Dubai Para Athletics Grand Prix in September 2026.
What is Tejalben Damor's next event at the Asian Para Games 2026?
Her primary discipline, the women's 400m T12, is scheduled next at the Asian Para Games 2026 in Nagoya. She has said the bronze in the 200m has boosted her confidence ahead of that race.
How has the Indian government supported Tejalben Damor's training?
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports extended financial assistance of ₹2,05,961 to Tejalben under the Annual Calendar for Training and Competition (ACTC). She also trains at the SAI National Centre of Excellence in Gandhinagar.
What is Tejalben Damor's competitive background before the Asian Para Games?
Tejalben began her para-athletics career in 2022. She finished sixth at the World Para Athletics Championships in 2025, then won gold at the National Championships in 2026 and at the Dubai Para Athletics Grand Prix before competing at the Asian Para Games.
