Indian track and field athlete Preethi Pal has etched her name in history as the first Indian woman to win two medals at the Paralympics. On Sunday, she clinched the bronze medal in the 200m T35 category with a personal best time of 30.01 seconds.
This remarkable achievement marks India’s second para-athletics medal at the Paris Games. The T35 classification is reserved for athletes with coordination impairments such as hypertonia, ataxia, and athetosis.
Preethi’s triumph follows her historic bronze medal in the women’s T35 100m competition on Friday, where she set a personal best time of 14.21 seconds. This was India’s first athletics medal in a Paralympics track event.
Prior to Preethi’s success, all of India’s Paralympic athletics medals had come from field events. Her achievements have not only broken new ground for Indian para-athletics but have also inspired countless individuals with disabilities.
Preethi’s journey to the Paralympics has been marked by determination and resilience. She was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at a young age, but her passion for sports never wavered. With the support of her family and coaches, she has overcome numerous challenges to reach the pinnacle of her sport.
Her success at the Paralympics is a testament to her unwavering spirit and the transformative power of sports. Preethi’s medals are not only a source of pride for India but also a symbol of hope and inspiration for all those who dare to dream big.
