Under the floodlights of the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, the air was thick with anticipation as India’s fastest para-sprinter, Simran Sharma, crouched into her blocks.
The women’s 100m T12 final at the World Para Athletics Championships had drawn the eyes of a nation, and when she powered across the finish line in 11.95 seconds, history was made.
Simran not only clinched the gold medal her first in the 100m at a global event but also became the first Indian woman para-athlete to break the 12-second barrier in the category. The stadium erupted as the 25-year-old Delhi athlete, running alongside her guide Umar Saifi, lifted her arms in triumph. For Simran, this was more than a medal. It was the fulfillment of a dream carved out of sacrifice, love, and relentless belief.
The Triumph That Almost Didn’t Happen
Born prematurely, Simran developed a visual impairment that left her with limited eyesight. Her early years were spent balancing schooling with the daily struggles of a middle-class household. Sports weren’t an obvious path financial barriers, societal pressures, and a lack of awareness about para-sports meant her dream looked distant.
But everything changed after her marriage to Gajendra Singh, an Indian Army soldier who would go on to become her greatest support system. Recognizing her potential, Gajendra sold family land to fund her training, invested his salary into her nutrition and equipment, and even took up the role of her coach.
“In every way, he has supported me like a father,” Simran once said. “Without him, I would never have stood on a track, let alone won medals for India.” As told to PTI
This gold medal, then, is as much his as hers.
Simran entered the 100m T12 final carrying the weight of unfinished business. She had medals in the 200m a gold at the 2024 Kobe World Championships and a bronze at the 2024 Paris Paralympics but in the shorter dash, she often stumbled. False starts, disqualifications, and close fourth-place finishes haunted her.
“I always thought I was unlucky in the 100 metres,” she admitted after the race. “Something or the other would always happen. But today, it was all about mindset. I told myself no overthinking, just run.” As told to ANI
That clarity translated into her smoothest race yet. She exploded out of the blocks, kept her form in check, and crossed the line in a personal best 11.95 seconds. Behind her lay years of near-misses; ahead of her lay history.
At the heart of Simran’s rise is her extraordinary partnership with Gajendra Singh. More than a husband, he has been her coach, manager, and motivator. From planning training schedules to monitoring her meals, he built an ecosystem that allowed her to focus solely on performance.
“He gave up everything for my dream,” Simran said. “When people questioned why he was investing so much in me, he simply said: ‘One day, the world will know her name.’ That day is today.”
Together, they symbolize what true partnership can achieve where love and sacrifice combine to create history.
Simran’s gold also represents the rapid growth of Indian para-athletics. Until recently, Indian sprinters struggled to break into the elite global times. But with better facilities, especially access to Mondo tracks, athletes are beginning to close the gap.
“This was the first time we trained on Mondo tracks consistently,” Simran explained. “It helped me find the rhythm I needed. Earlier, we never had such opportunities. That made all the difference.”
Her victory also carried national pride. Simran dedicated her medal to her late father, thanked the Prime Minister and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister for their support, and promised that the 200m her signature event would bring more glory.
“This is just the beginning,” she declared. “I want to defend my 200m gold. The best is yet to come.”
Simran’s resume now stands glittering with achievements that make her one of India’s most decorated para-sprinters:
- 2024 Kobe World Championships – Gold, 200m
- 2024 Paris Paralympics – Bronze, 200m
- 2025 New Delhi World Championships – Gold, 100m (PB 11.95s)
- 2022 Asian Para Games – Double Silver (100m & 200m)
The progression is clear. What began as heartbreak in the 100m has now been transformed into triumph, showing her ability to adapt, learn, and rise.
What makes Simran’s story resonate is not just her speed but her humanity. She speaks with raw honesty about her struggles how financial pressures nearly derailed her, how society doubted her, and how she once questioned whether destiny was against her.
Yet each time, she found strength in belief hers, her husband’s, and now the nation’s.
“She is India’s fastest woman in para-sport, but more importantly, she is proof that adversity is not the end of the road,” said her coach-husband Gajendra. “It can be the beginning of greatness.”
As India celebrates her golden sprint, Simran’s eyes are already set on the 200m, where she is the defending world champion. Running with guide Umar Saifi, she hopes to push her personal best further and perhaps inch closer to the world record.
But beyond the medals and times, her story is now etched in India’s sporting consciousness a tale of resilience, partnership, and belief. From a young girl born prematurely with a visual impairment, to a woman who had land sold for her training, to a world champion breaking barriers on home soil Simran Sharma has sprinted her way into history.
On the night of October 3rd, 2025, she showed that gold is never just won on the track it is forged in years of unseen struggle, sacrifice, and unwavering faith.
