Gandhinagar, October 20, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Tejal Damor, a visually impaired sprinter from Gujarat, won the bronze medal in the women’s 200m T12 event at the Asian Para Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, setting a personal best on her debut at the continental competition.
The 24-year-old athlete from Dahod district trains at the Sports Authority of India’s National Centre of Excellence (SAI NCoE) in Gandhinagar. She clocked 25.25 seconds in the heats, finishing second in her race to qualify for the final. The timing bettered her previous personal best of 25.47 seconds, recorded while winning gold at the Dubai Para Athletics Grand Prix in September.
Damor credited her coach, Nitin Choudhary, for his dedication and discipline, saying his consistent support had played a crucial role in her progress.
She said the medal was the result of extensive hard work and rigorous training, adding that her coach remained committed even on Sundays designated as rest days. Damor also spoke about the struggles she had overcome and said she had arrived at the Games determined to return with a medal.
Damor began her para-athletics career in 2022 and has since participated in several national and international competitions. She finished sixth at the World Para Athletics Championships in 2025, won gold at the National Championships in 2026 and claimed another gold at the Dubai Para Athletics Grand Prix in September.
At SAI NCoE Gandhinagar, she receives coaching, access to sports infrastructure and other training facilities. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has also provided financial assistance of Rs 2,05,961 for her sporting preparations under the Annual Calendar for Training and Competition (ACTC).
The bronze medal has boosted Damor’s confidence ahead of the women’s 400m T12 event, which she considers her main competition at the Games. She and her coach had planned to use the 200m race to build momentum for the longer sprint.
Damor said the medal had strengthened her confidence and determination to deliver her best in the 400m event.
Beyond her competitive ambitions, the sprinter also hopes to establish a dedicated running track for visually impaired children in Dahod, giving them better opportunities to pursue athletics and develop their sporting potential.
FOLLOW NOW
