Simran Sharma’s golden sprint: India’s Paralympic star shines again

The stadium fell silent for a moment before erupting into thunderous applause as Indiarsquos own superstar achieved what seemed impossible just a few years agoUnder the flashy floodlights amid the humid weather at the Jawaharlal Nehru JLN Stadium in New Delhi Simran Sharma fixed her eyes on the finish line which she could only partially see Crossing it first in the 100 meters T12 category with unmatched determination her hard work discipline and resilience helped her clinch the silver in the 200 meters T12 category on SundayBronze medalist at the Paris Paralympics 2024 Simran was already on a golden run before stepping onto the track for her next event The Delhiborn athlete clocked 2475 seconds securing the bronze which was later turned to silver in a fiercely competitive raceSpeaking exclusively with MidDay Simran discussed the challenges she faced as a paraathlete and how her husband and coach Gajendra Singh inspired her to pursue the sport professionally after their marriageSimran Sharma with her husband Gajendra Singh and her guide Umar Saifi PicSpecial arrangementHours after winning the bronze in the 200 meters T12 Simran visibly moved said ldquoIt wasnrsquot just a race It was the culmination of years of quiet struggle discipline and unshakable faithrdquoWith a bright smile she added ldquoIt hasnrsquot been easy It has been years of hard work dedication and sheer practice that helped me upgrade the medal from last yearrsquos World ParaAthletic Championship in Kobe JapanrdquoBorn with a premature visual impairment Simran Sharmarsquos journey has been one of courage resilience and unwavering determination Life tested her limits from the very beginning she spent six challenging months in an incubator fighting to survive Yet even amidst these early struggles her spirit shone brightly A passionate sports enthusiast since childhood Simranrsquos love for athletics became her guiding lightHer father Manoj Sharma stood firmly by her side encouraging her to embrace sports and chase her dreams despite the obstacles Everything changed however when she met the love of her life Gajendra SinghSpeaking to MidDay Simran opened up about the most impactful force in her life and careermdashher husband who is also her coach ldquoBreaking stereotypes it was Gajendra who encouraged me and trained me to take up the sport professionally He always knew my potential sometimes even more than I didrdquo Simran said with a very heavy voice letting her emotions flow outldquoGajendra never let ego come in between and made sure that I win gold for India every time I step on the field He is the ideal partner and I consider myself extremely lucky to have him in my liferdquo Simran addedAsked about how she pushes herself as a paraathlete in highpressure competitions the 25yearold said ldquoEvery competition teaches me something new From my early days to now itrsquos been about believing in myself and never giving up My family and coach have been my biggest strengthrdquoBorn with a visual impairment Simran competes in the T12 category where athletes rely more on instinct rhythm and courage than on sight Yet her focus has always been crystal clear to bring glory to her countryAs she prepared for the 2025 Paralympics her dedication grew stronger each day ldquoAfter every championship I sit down with my coach and analyse what went right and what needs work My training schedule changes my diet gets strictermdashbut thatrsquos the process I love Improvement never stops and probably these are few things which has helped me do well this yearrdquo she saidBut her story isnrsquot just about medals and championships itrsquos also about the barriers that still exist for paraathletes in IndialdquoBeing a paraathlete is not easy We still face challenges from accessibility to infrastructure I just hope that in the future no athlete feels limited by whatrsquos around them We deserve the same support and facilities as any other sportspersonrdquo Sharma addedSimranrsquos doublemedal win in the marquee track events is more than just a victory Her win is a statement of resilience dedication and how a supportive partner can do wonders Simranrsquos journey enlightens us that true strength lies not in perfection but in persistence and with sheer perseverance and a slight push from your loved one from behind is enough to bring gloryAs Simran stood on the podium for the second time in the World ParaAthletic Championships her eyes shimmered with pride and purpose making the entire nation proudIndiarsquos performance at the World Para Athletics Championships in 2025 witnessed a remarkable leap While marking a historic milestone for the nationrsquos paraathletes India bagged 22 medals this year with 6 gold 9 silver and 7 bronze improving significantly from last yearrsquos performance in Japanrsquos Kobe where Indian athletes clinched a total of 17 medals including 6 gold 5 silver and 6 bronze securing an impressive 6th place overall