Preethi Pal from India created history by becoming the first woman track and field athlete to win two medals at the Paralympics. She won a bronze medal in the 200m T35 race, setting a personal best time of 30.01 seconds. Preethi Pal, who is 23 years old, is also India’s second para-athletic medallist in the Paris games.
The T35 classification is for athletes with coordination impairments such as hypertonia, ataxia, and athetosis. She made history by winning India’s first-ever athletics medal in a Paralympic track event on Friday. She took home a bronze medal in the women’s T35 100m race with a personal best time of 14.21 seconds. Since 1984, all of India’s athletic medals at the Paralympics have been won in field events.
Who Is Preethi Pal?
Preethi Pal was born on September 22, 2000, in Muzaffarnagar, U.P. She was born into a farmer’s family. When she was born, she faced major physical challenges. Her lower body was plastered for 6 days after birth. She was prone to various diseases because of weak legs and an irregular leg posture. She went through various traditional treatments to strengthen her legs.
When she was five, she started wearing calipers. Calipers can be used to support, assist, and limit joint movement at the foot, ankle, knees, hips, and pelvis. She wore them for eight years. Many people used to doubt her survival. But instead, Preethi proved to be a fighter. She overcame life-threatening conditions. She emerged victorious, demonstrating incredible strength and resilience.
Preethi Pal’s Inspiration
At the age of 17, Preethi’s perspective started shifting when she watched the Paralympic Games on social media. She was inspired by it. She realized that she could work on her dreams. With the thought of improving, she started practicing at the stadium. However, her financial position made it difficult for her to afford transportation.
Her life took a turn when she met Paralympic athlete Fatima Khatoon, who introduced her to the world of para-athletics.
With her support, Preethi took part in the State Para Athletics Championships in 2018. Then she competed in numerous national events. Her hard work paid off when she qualified for the Asian Para Games 2022. There she held the position of 4th in both the 100m and 200m sprints.
Although she couldn’t win a medal at the Asian Para Games. Preethi stayed motivated and aimed for the Paralympic Games. She shifted to Delhi. There she was trained under Coach Gajender Singh. She was trained in SAI JLN Stadium, New Delhi. Together, they refined her running techniques. It led to major improvements in her performance.
Preethi’s dedication and hard work paid off when she was selected for the World Para Athletics Championship. She even won 2 gold medals in the Indian Open Para Athletics International Championship (2024). and 2 gold medals in the National Para Athletics Championship (2024). In 2024, she did great and won bronze medals in both the 100m and 200m events.
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