Preeti Pal made history at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games by claiming her second medal, a bronze, in the women’s 200m T35 event. With a personal best time of 30.01 seconds, Preeti finished third behind China’s Xia Zhou and Guo Qianqian, who took home the gold and silver medals with times of 28.15 seconds and 29.09 seconds, respectively.
This remarkable achievement makes Preeti the first Indian track and field athlete to win two medals at the Paralympic Games.
First Paralympic medal in 100 m T35
Preeti had already made headlines by winning India’s first ever Paralympic track medal. She took bronze in the women’s 100m T35 event with a personal best of 14.21 seconds. This feat was significant as all of India’s previous Paralympic athletics medals since 1984 had been in field events.
Recognition from Prime Minister Modi
Preeti’s success has not gone unnoticed, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulating her on social media, acknowledging her achievement in the 100m T35 event and highlighting her role as an inspiration for future athletes. “More glory for India: Preeti Pal wins a bronze medal in the 100m T35 event at #Paralympics2024. Congratulations to her. This success will certainly motivate budding athletes,” he tweeted.
A historic achievement for Preeti Pal as she wins her second medal in the same edition of the #ParalympicGames2024 With a bronze medal in the women’s 200m T35 event! She is an inspiration to the people of India. Her dedication is truly remarkable. #Cheer4Bharat image.twitter.com/4q3IPJDUII
– Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 1, 2024
Preeti’s Challenging Journey
Born into a farming family in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, Preeti faced considerable physical challenges from birth – she had to wear a cast on her lower body for six days due to weak and irregular leg posture. Traditional treatments and the use of calipers for eight years from the age of five were part of her journey to strengthen her legs.
Preeti’s perspective changed at the age of 17, when she discovered the Paralympics on social media. The turning point came when she met Paralympic athlete Fatima Khatoon, who introduced her to para athletics. With Khatoon’s mentorship, Preeti began competing in state and national championships from 2018, eventually qualifying for the Asian Paralympics in China last year, where she finished fourth in the 100m and 200m sprints. Preeti’s move to Delhi to train under coach Gajender Singh played a pivotal role in honing her running techniques.
This dedicated training paid off as she won bronze medals in the 100m and 200m events at the World Para Athletics Championships in May 2024. Her journey has been supported by the government’s Target Olympic Podium Scheme, which provided her with financial assistance and allowances to allow her to focus on her training and competitions.
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