Preethi Pal created history with a bronze medal in the women’s 100m T35 event at the Paris 2024 Paralympics Games. She became the first Indian track event athlete to win a Paralympic medal.
China dominated in the women’s 100m T35 event as they claimed the gold and silver medals. While Zhou Xia won the gold medal with her season-best performance (13.58 seconds), Guo Qianqian claimed the silver medal with her personal best performance (13.74 seconds).
Preethi Pal: First Indian track athlete to win a Paralympic medal
The 23-year-old Indian Preethi Pal also produced her personal best performance, as she finished the race in 14.21 seconds to secure the historic bronze medal for her country. It was the first Paralympic medal for India in the track event.
In the ongoing Paris 2024 Paralympics Games, Preethi will also compete in the women’s 200m T35 event.
According to the Olympics, “The T35 class is for runners with coordination impairments such as hypertonia, ataxia, and athetosis.”
Now I hope to get a medal in the 200m: Preethi Pal
After winning the historic bronze medal, Preethi has now set her eye on another medal in the women’s 200m T35 event.
Preethi said according to Olympics.com, “Before I came to Paris, I hoped to get a medal as in the worlds - I got the bronze medal, so I thought I could do it at these Paralympics. Now I hope to get a medal in the 200m.”
Who is Preethi Pal?
Preethi Pal hails from Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh. She was born on 22 September 2000.
During her childhood, Preethi was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, and she couldn’t get proper treatment in her hometown Meerut.
Preethi began the sport at the age of 18. During the 2024 World Championships in Kobe, Japan, Preethi won two bronze medals. In the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Para Games, she closely missed out on medals in both the women’s 100m T35 and women’s 200m T35 events by finishing fourth in both events.
