Indian para sprinter Preeti Pal won the bronze medal in the 200m T35 race late Sunday night. Preeti created history as she became the first Indian female athlete to win 2 medals in a track and field event at the Paralympics or Olympics. In this event, Preeti performed her best by completing the race in 30.01 seconds.
Earlier on Friday, Preeti won the bronze medal in the women’s T35 100m race. She took 14.21 seconds, which was also her personal best. The para-athlete said after winning her second medal at the Paris Paralympics, “I tried to give my best and I am happy that I won another medal. After winning the medal in 100m, people trolled me and this inspired me to do better.” Earlier, Preeti’s dedication and hard work resulted in her selection for the World Para Athletics Championships 2024, where she excelled by winning bronze medals in both the 100m and 200m events and secured her quota for the Paris Paralympics.
With this medal, India has secured a total of six medals including one gold, one silver and four bronze in the ongoing Paris Paralympics. She was born to a farmer’s family in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh. She faced significant physical challenges when she was born as her lower body was plastered for six days after birth. Weak legs and an irregular leg posture made her prone to various diseases.
She underwent various treatments to strengthen her legs, including wearing calipers for eight years from the age of five.At 17, Preethi’s perspective started to change when she watched the Paralympic Games on social media. But her life-changing moment came when she met Paralympic athlete Fatima Khatoon, who introduced her to para-athletics.
Preethi competed in the state championships and national events from 2018 onwards with Fatima’s support. She qualified for the Asian Para Games in China in 2023, where she finished fourth in both the 100m and 200m sprints.
She moved to Delhi to train under coach Gajender Singh and fine-tuned her running techniques, leading to her winning a bronze medal each in 100m and 200m in World Para Athletics Championships.
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