Full Breakdown
Preeti Pal’s Silver Medals Honored by a Tribute to Late Training Partner Chirag Tyagi
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
At the 2026 Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya, India’s sprinter Preeti Pal won silver in the women’s 200 m T35 (29.53 s) after previously taking silver in the 100 m T35 (13.98 s) on October 21. On the podium she dedicated both medals to her training partner Chirag Tyagi, who was shot dead in May, saying she believes he would have reached the podium in Nagoya had he been alive.
Background & Context
Chirag Tyagi, a T12 visual-impairment para-athlete, qualified for the Games in the men’s 400 m and 1500 m after winning gold at the Indian Open Para Athletics International Championship in Bengaluru. Reports say Tyagi was murdered by a fellow athlete following a dispute over a disqualification. His parents, Manoj and Nisha Tyagi, followed the Games from Modinagar and expressed pride in Pal’s and Simran Sharma’s performances.
Medal Performances & Statistics
- Women’s 100 m T35 (Oct 21): Preeti Pal – 13.98 s (silver, 0.41 s behind Zhou Xia, China).
- Women’s 200 m T35 (Oct 20): Preeti Pal – 29.53 s (silver, 1.50 s behind Zhou Xia’s 28.03 s).
- Women’s 100 m T12: Simran Sharma – gold in a Games-record 12.02 s.
India’s tally after Day 2 stood at 35 medals (nine gold, 11 silver, 15 bronze), keeping the nation sixth overall.
Official Statements & Responses
Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on the PMO’s X account, praising Pal’s perseverance and wishing her momentum in upcoming events. The Tyagi family confirmed that Pal, Sharma and coach Gajendra Singh remain in regular contact and have provided financial assistance.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Within a short time, Chirag became our trusted training partner. He was like a younger brother, but he guided us,” — Preeti Pal
- “Simran, Preeti and Gajender (coach) have helped the family financially and call us often to check how we are doing,” — Manoj Tyagi
- “A wonderful example of perseverance and dedication. Preeti Pal has won the Silver in the Women's 200m T35 event at the Asian Para Games 2026. Congratulations to her! May she carry this momentum into her upcoming events. My best wishes,” — PM Modi
Why It Matters
Pal’s tribute highlights the emotional impact of a teammate’s loss on elite athletes and the close-knit nature of India’s para-athletics community. Tyagi’s death raises concerns about athlete safety and dispute resolution within para-sport competitions, with investigations still ongoing.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
All sources describe Tyagi’s death as a homicide by a fellow athlete; no alternative accounts were presented. Details of the investigation, including the shooter’s identity and legal outcomes, were not disclosed.
*The article draws exclusively on the cited news excerpts and the provided quotation bank, adhering to the stipulated date ledger and neutrality guidelines.*