Asian Para Games 2026: Software engineer Prachi bags TT bronze

From being a software engineer to securing Indiarsquos firstever medal in the Womenrsquos Singles Class 6 on debut in the Asian Para Games 2026 in AichiNagoya paddler Prachi Pandey has had an interesting journey in Indian parasportsFrom a career in technology to creating history in parasports Prachirsquos remarkable success is an inspiring testament to perseverance sporting excellence and the transformative impact of sustained athlete developmentIn a historic achievement for Indian Para Table Tennis Prachi Pandey a Khelo India athlete training at the Sports Authority of Indiarsquos National Centre of Excellence SAI NCoE Gandhinagar clinched the bronze medal in Womenrsquos Singles Class 6 at the Asian Para Games 2026 in AichiNagoya JapanMaking her debut at the prestigious continental Games the 33yearold World No 17 secured Indiarsquos firstever medal in the event marking a significant milestone for Indian Para Table Tennis and adding another proud chapter to the countryrsquos achievements in para sportsPrachirsquos impressive campaign saw her advance to the semifinals where she faced Iraqrsquos World No 5 Najlah AlDayyeni the reigning Paralympic and Asian Para Games champion Her podium finish against a highly competitive international field reflects her growing stature on the global stage and years of sustained preparationHailing from Uttar Pradesh Prachirsquos journey to international sporting success is an extraordinary story of determination resilience and an inspiring career transformation An MTech graduate from Punjab Engineering College Chandigarh she worked as a fullstack software developer between 2020 and 2023 before deciding to pursue Para Table Tennis fulltime Despite the challenges posed by a progressive neurological condition she has steadily established herself among Indiarsquos leading para paddlersPrachi has enjoyed an outstanding domestic career winning national titles and maintaining an impressive record at the highest level of Indian Para Table Tennis She secured gold medals at the National Para Table Tennis Championships in 2022 and 2023 besides emerging victorious at the inaugural Khelo India Para Games in 2023 and repeating the feat at the 2025 editionHer international career has been equally impressive Since winning her first International Table Tennis Federation ITTF medal at the 2023 Brazilian Para Open Prachi has accumulated 12 medals in ITTF ranking tournaments comprising four silver and eight bronze medals Her recent performances include silver at the 2026 ITTF World Para Future Gold Coast and bronze medals at the 2026 ITTF World Para Future Nakhon Ratchasima the 2025 ITTF World Para Challenger Kaohsiung and the 2025 ITTF World Para Future Costa BravaA significant factor behind Prachirsquos rise has been the structured highperformance training and institutional support extended through the Khelo India programme and SAI NCoE Gandhinagar where she has been associated with the programme since June 2023SAI NCoE Gandhinagar designated as the Nodal Centre for Para Sports has been strengthening its highperformance ecosystem for para athletes through specialised coaching sports science interventions international competition exposure and comprehensive training facilities Prachi follows an intensive training schedule comprising three sessions daily supported by a multidisciplinary team providing strength and conditioning physiotherapy mental conditioning rehabilitation and recovery servicesTo strengthen her international competitiveness SAI NCoE Gandhinagar has facilitated three international exposure opportunities enabling her to gain valuable match experience against leading international players Her preparation has also been supported under the Annual Calendar for Training and Competition ACTC with financial assistance amounting to approximately Rs 2686 lakh during the Asian Para Games 2026 cycle in addition to the residential training facilities and comprehensive support available at the CentreReflecting on her historic achievement Prachi Pandey said ldquoWinning a medal for India at my first Asian Para Games is a dream come true and an incredibly proud moment for me My journey from working as a software engineer to standing on the Asian Para Games podium has been full of challenges sacrifices and determination I am deeply grateful to the Sports Authority of India the Khelo India programme and SAI NCoE Gandhinagar for the continuous support quality training facilities and international exposure that have helped me reach this stage I am equally thankful to my coaches sports science team and everyone who has stood by me throughout this journey This medal is a result of our collective efforts and it motivates me to aim even higher and bring more laurels to the countryrdquoPrachirsquos historic bronze is also a significant achievement for SAI Regional Centre Gandhinagar which has been working towards developing NCoE Gandhinagar as a premier national training hub for para sports With specialised training programmes across six para disciplines and an increasing emphasis on sports science international exposure and athletecentric support the Centre continues to strengthen its contribution to Indiarsquos para sports developmentHer achievement underscores the impact of the Khelo India initiative and the Sports Authority of Indiarsquos sustained efforts towards building a comprehensive highperformance ecosystem where promising athletes receive the necessary technical scientific and institutional support to compete successfully at the international levelThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever