SAI NCoE Gandhinagar athlete overcomes personal hardships to secure podium finish on Asian Para Games debut; credits coach’s relentless efforts
Overcoming personal hardships and years of determined struggle, Tejalben Amraji Damor, a visually impaired sprinter training at the Sports Authority of India’s National Centre of Excellence (SAI NCoE), Gandhinagar, has won the Bronze Medal in the Women’s 200m T12 event at the Asian Para Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Making her debut at the prestigious continental Games, the 24-year-old athlete from Gujarat also registered a personal best, marking a significant milestone in her international sporting career. Tejalben had earlier clocked an impressive 25.
25 seconds in the heats, finishing second in her heat to qualify for the final. Her performance demonstrated remarkable improvement over the 25.47 seconds she recorded while winning gold at the Dubai Para Athletics Grand Prix in September 2026. Her bronze medal and personal-best performance at the Asian Para Games represent the culmination of sustained preparation, disciplined training and an unwavering determination to succeed. Speaking after her medal-winning performance, an emotional Tejalben dedicated her achievement to her coach, Nitin Choudhary, acknowledging the extraordinary commitment and personal sacrifices that contributed to her success. “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, Tejalben said. Reflecting on her journey, Tejalben spoke candidly about the challenges faced by her family and the determination that kept her sporting ambitions alive. Coming from a modest background in Dahod, Gujarat, she acknowledged the difficulties encountered during her journey while emphasising her resolve to succeed at the international level. At SAI NCoE Gandhinagar, she is provided with the necessary facilities and support for her sports training, including structured coaching, access to training infrastructure and other essential requirements, enabling her to focus on her athletic development and competitive preparation. “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. Tejalben began her para-athletics journey in 2022 and has since made steady progress at the national and international levels. Her achievements include a sixth-place finish at the World Para Athletics Championships in 2025, a gold medal at the National Championships in 2026 and gold at the Dubai Para Athletics Grand Prix in September 2026. Training under Coach Nitin Choudhary at SAI NCoE Gandhinagar, she has benefited from a structured high-performance training environment, dedicated coaching and sustained technical guidance. Tejalben receives support from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports under the Annual Calendar for Training and Competition (ACTC), with financial assistance amounting to ₹2,05,961 extended towards her sporting preparations. In addition, SAI NCoE Gandhinagar provides the necessary training facilities, coaching support, sports infrastructure and other essential requirements for her preparation.
This comprehensive support ecosystem has enabled her to train consistently, improve her performances and compete at the highest international level. With the Women’s 400m T12 event, which she considers her primary event, scheduled shortly, Tejalben believes that the bronze medal has provided a significant boost to her confidence. She explained that winning a medal in the 200m was an important part of the strategy developed with her coach to build momentum ahead of the 400m competition. “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 added.
Beyond her personal sporting ambitions, Tejalben aspires to establish a dedicated running track for visually impaired children in Dahod, Gujarat, with the objective of creating greater opportunities for children with visual impairments to participate in athletics and develop their sporting potential. Her bronze medal at the Asian Para Games 2026 is a proud achievement for SAI NCoE Gandhinagar and Indian para-athletics. From overcoming personal challenges to standing on the podium at one of Asia’s biggest multi-sport events, Tejalben’s journey exemplifies perseverance, the importance of dedicated coaching and the impact of a supportive high-performance training ecosystem. As she prepares for the Women’s 400m T12 event, Tejalben will look to carry forward the confidence and momentum of her bronze medal-winning performance and pursue further success for India.
