Indian Athletes Shine at National Para Athletics Championships in Odisha

Celebrating Success at the National Para Athletics Championships

Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], March 22: Gajendra Singh, a coach in para athletics, expressed his pride in the remarkable performances of Indian athletes at the recently concluded National Para Athletics Championships held in Odisha. He believes these achievements will significantly enhance India's medal prospects at the upcoming Asian Para Games later this year.

The 24th edition of the National Para Athletics Championship wrapped up at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Saturday. The event was honored by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, who presented awards to the top-performing para-athletes. Haryana topped the medal tally with an impressive 95 medals, followed by Tamil Nadu with 51 medals, and Gujarat, which secured third place with 30 medals. The host state, Odisha, also performed admirably, earning a total of 17 medals, including five golds.

In an interview, Gajendra praised his three athletes, including his wife Simran Sharma, who is a bronze medalist from the Paris Paralympics 2024 and a gold medalist at the World Championships. He also highlighted Preethi Pal, a two-time bronze medalist at the Paralympics, and Chirag Tyagi, who participated in the championships and achieved a world ranking of number one in his category.

“I am currently coaching three athletes, one of whom is my wife, Simran Sharma, a world champion and Paralympic medalist. Preethi Pal, who has two Paralympic bronze medals, also trains with me. Chirag Tyagi recently showcased an outstanding performance here. We are excelling on the global stage, and I am optimistic about our future successes. The season has just begun, and our results have been remarkable,” he stated.

The National Para Athletics Championships were organized by the Paralympic Committee of India, highlighting exceptional performances that are expected to boost the country's medal count. Gajendra commended the Odisha government for its excellent organization of the event, emphasizing their goal to peak for the Asian Para Games.

He also mentioned that Simran is currently recovering from an injury and is undergoing treatment. “We plan to start her treatment in May. Meanwhile, the athletes will participate in a month-long training camp in Bengaluru due to the heat in Delhi. Following that, we will compete in the final trials for the Asian Games,” he concluded.

The championship attracted 1,460 para-athletes from 28 states across India.