New Delhi: Indian para-athlete Preethi Pal delighted India by clinching a bronze medal in the women’s T35 100m event at the Paris Paralympics 2024 on Friday. She opened India’s account in the para-athletics, winning the first medal with a personal best time of 14.21 seconds. The gold and the silver medals were won by China’s Zhou Xia (13.58) and Guo Qianqian (13.74) respectively.
Preethi, who competes in the T35 classification, is meant for the athletes who have coordination impairments such as hypertonia, ataxia and athetosis as well as cerebral palsy – a problem she is tackling since her childhood. She has brought a third medal for the nation in the ongoing Games on the second day. Like many other para-athletes Preethi’s journey to the grand stage is nothing short of extraordinary.
Who is Preethi Pal?
Preethi Pal was born on September 22, 2000, and hails from Meerut in Uttar Pradesh. She had cerebral palsy during her childhood and could not get proper treatment in the city. Despite the oddities, her passion for running remained resolute. She is a usual participant in the women’s 100m T47 category. She eventually moved to Delhi where she started her training under coach Gajendra Singh at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
It is her true grit and her unwavering determination that makes her story stand apart from the rest. Facing numerous odds, she regularly pushed herself forward and was supported by the initiatives like the Khelo India scheme which brought her top class training facilities. Her bond with coach Gajendra has been very important for her career, leading her to improve on her technique and make tremendous growth as an athlete.
Achievements
Preethi’s breakthrough moment arrived in May 2024 at the World Para Athletics Championships in Kobe, Japan where she starred with a stunning performance in the women’s T35 200m event. She won a bronze medal there with a personal best of 30.29 seconds.
With the triumph, she became the first Indian woman to win a medal in such a highly competitive event at the World Championships. This feat also secured her a spot at the Paris Paralympics 2024. She later went on to win another bronze medal, this time in the women’s 100m T35 event with a personal best of 14.43 seconds.
Before she shone in Japan, she was already in the headlines for her double gold medal effort at the 6th Indian Open Para Athletics Championships in Bangalore. The two triumphs built her a strong repertoire as a worthy competitor on the track and prepared her well in the tune up to the Paris Paralympics, the result of which has finally satisfied every Indian.
Preethi Pal opened India’s account in athletics with a bronze medal at the Paris Paralympics 2024. She bettered herself by registering her personal best and brought a third medal for the nation on the second day. Other Sports Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
