Tejal Damor Wins Bronze at Asian Para Games 2026 in 200m T12

‘I Want to Thank My Coach Before Anyone Else’

Tejal gave the credit for her medal to her coach, Nitin Choudhary. “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.

She also spoke about the struggles behind her success. “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,” she said.

A Fast Rise in Just Four Years

Tejal started her para-athletics career in 2022. Since then, she has steadily climbed:

• 2025: Sixth place at the World Para Athletics Championships
• 2026: Gold at the National Championships
• September 2026: Gold at the Dubai Para Athletics Grand Prix
• October 2026: Bronze at the Asian Para Games

The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has supported her preparation with financial assistance of Rs 2,05,961 under the Annual Calendar for Training and Competition (ACTC).

The 200m Was the Warm-Up

Interestingly, the 200m was not even her main target. “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 said.

A Track for Dahod’s Children

Beyond medals, Tejal has a dream that goes beyond her own career. She hopes to set up a dedicated running track for visually impaired children in Dahod, giving them a chance to take up athletics and discover their potential.

Why It Matters

Stories like Tejal’s show how structured support, from SAI centres to government funding, can help athletes from smaller districts reach international podiums. Her wish to build a track also points to a real gap: children with disabilities in many parts of India still lack access to proper sports facilities.

What Comes Next

All eyes now turn to the women’s 400m T12, where Tejal will aim to turn her bronze-fuelled confidence into an even bigger result.

With inputs from IANS.