The race for the gold was won by Cuba’s Omara Durand Elias, who finished with a time of 23.62 seconds, while Venezuela’s Paola Alejandra Perez Lopez secured the silver with 24.19 seconds.
The T12 classification in the Paralympics is designated for athletes with visual impairments. Simran, who is 24 years old, was born prematurely and spent the first 10 weeks of her life in an incubator, where it was discovered that she is visually impaired.
During the race, Simran found herself in a competitive battle for the bronze medal with Iran’s Hajar Safarzadeh, who had a better reaction time. However, Simran managed to pull ahead in the final stretch, finishing with a time of 24.75 seconds, while Hajar clocked 24.91 seconds.
Simran, who became the world champion this year in Kobe, Japan, has faced numerous challenges throughout her life, including coping with her father’s chronic illness and eventual passing. Earlier in the competition, she finished in fourth place in the 100m event, narrowly missing out on a medal.
After the disappointment in the 100m competition, the 200m race provided Simran with an opportunity for redemption. With the help of her guide, Abhay Singh, she gave her all to secure a podium finish. Her determination to succeed after the fourth-place finish in the 100m was evident, remarked an observer at the event.
Simran’s journey to this bronze medal has been marked by impressive performances. On Friday, she qualified for the final of the 200m event with a time of 25.03 seconds, after topping her heat with a time of 25.41 seconds in the semifinals.
Simran is coached by her husband, Gajendra Singh, who works for the Army Service Corps. She trains at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Delhi. Her breakthrough came at the 2019 World Para Athletics Championship, which she competed in despite fears of her father’s deteriorating health.
Following the 2019 championship, she has channelled her grief from losing her father into motivation to honor his memory through her achievements.
Since 2022, Simran has performed exceptionally well in national and international competitions, achieving significant success in the National Championship and the Indian Open in 100m and 200m events.
In addition to her recent bronze medal, Simran has won two silver medals at the Asian Para Games in Hangzhou last year. She also secured three gold medals in the 100m, 200m, and long jump at the inaugural Khelo India Para Games last December.
Owing to her consistent performances, Simran has been included in the government’s Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS).
This bronze medal at the Paris Paralympics is the first medal for India on the day, following disappointments in swimming, canoeing, and road cycling.
