Some victories begin long before the race starts.
For Simran Sharma, every medal she has won is the result of a lifetime spent overcoming challenges that most people never have to face.
Born in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, Simran was diagnosed with a 40% visual impairment. Everyday tasks were difficult, but the emotional scars ran even deeper. As a child, she was often mocked and bullied because of her eyesight. Many believed her disability would define her future.
She decided it wouldn’t.
Sports gradually became her escape and her source of confidence. Running wasn’t just about speed, it was about proving to herself that she was capable of achieving what others thought was impossible. Competing in the T12 category for athletes with visual impairment, Simran had to learn to trust not only her instincts but also a guide runner, as races are won through perfect coordination as much as raw pace.
But talent alone wasn’t enough.
Coming from a modest family, international training and competitions seemed financially out of reach. That’s when her biggest pillar of support stepped in Gajendra Singh, who would later become both her husband and coach. Believing completely in her potential, he made an extraordinary sacrifice by selling his land to fund her training, travel and equipment. He also became her guide runner, training alongside her every single day and sharing every victory and setback.
The faith they placed in each other soon began to bear fruit.
At the 2022 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, Simran announced herself on the international stage by winning two silver medals in the 100m and 200m T12 events.
Two years later, she created history at the 2024 Paris Paralympics, winning bronze in the Women’s 200m T12, becoming one of India’s Paralympic medallists and inspiring millions back home.
Yet, her finest moment was still to come. At the 2025 World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi, Simran sprinted to gold in the Women’s 100m T12, clocking a personal best of 11.95 seconds. It was India’s first-ever World Championship gold in the women’s 100m T12 event, firmly establishing her among the world’s best para sprinters.
Today, Simran Sharma’s story is remembered not just for the medals she has won, but for the partnership that made them possible. One person refused to let a visual impairment limit her dreams. Another refused to let financial hardship limit those dreams.
References
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