Published By: Sayan Paul

Paris Paralympics 2024: India's Medal Tally Climbs with Preethi Pal's Bronze in Women's 100m T35

Meet Preethi Pal, the young athlete who sprinted her way from a small town in India to the global stage, overcoming every hurdle life threw at her

Do you know how it feels to see a movie about a young underdog who defies all odds to succeed? But occasionally, the actual world may be much more motivating. We're talking about Preethi Pal today—a name that's been all over the headlines after her incredible performance at the 2024 Paralympics in Paris.

What a contest it was! In the women's 100m T35 final, Preethi Pal ran a fast 14.21 seconds to earn a well-earned bronze medal and became the first Indian to win a medal in a track event at the Paralympic games. The thunderous cheers of the stadium aptly accompanied her incredible trip as she reached the finish line. Preethi looked every inch the champion she is, standing on the podium with the Indian flag flying high.

Of course, she was not alone. Zhou Xia won gold in an astounding 13.58 seconds, and Guo Qianqian brought home silver in 13.74 seconds. However, Preethi's victory was a source of satisfaction for India since it added to the country's medal tally immediately following Avani Lekhara's gold medal win and Mona Agarwal's bronze in the shooting event.

From Meerut to the world stage: Who is Preethi Pal?

So, who is this remarkable woman? Imagine a little girl racing through the dusty streets of Meerut, a city not recognised for its sports facilities, with a seemingly unattainable desire. Early on, Preethi was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, which presented several difficulties. However, as they say, you create lemonade when life offers you lemons. How about Preethi? She constructed a complete lemonade stand!

Preethi had a difficult childhood because there weren't many therapeutic choices in her village. But in her heart, she never stopped racing. She eventually packed everything and relocated to Delhi. She first met Coach Gajendra Singh at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in that capacity. Her skill and his knowledge were a match made in heaven, similar to discovering the correct key for a lock. She started honing her technique and picking up the subtleties of competitive running under his tutelage.

The power of perseverance

The life of Preethi is a tribute to the strength of tenacity. Consider it. How many of us would persevere in facing one obstacle after another, both real and imagined? However, Preethi? With the help of the Khelo India program, which gave her access to some of the most excellent training facilities in the nation, she persisted. The effort served as a safety net, freeing her to concentrate on her favourite activity, jogging.

Her training regimen was built on her friendship with Coach Singh. Like Batman and Robin, they overcame every challenge that stood in their way, and it was a huge success.

Breaking barriers, making history

Let's fast-forward to the World Para Athletics Championships in Kobe, Japan, in May 2024. Imagine the scene: a stadium full of supporters waving, the tension in the air so intense that a knife might cut it. Preethi was also there, preparing for the women's T35 200m competition.

When the gun fires, she takes off running, setting a personal record of 30.49 seconds to cross the finish line and win a bronze medal. That day, she created history by being the first woman from India to win a medal in this competition at the World Championships.

She added another feather to her crown with a bronze in the women's 100m T35, clocking in at 14.43 seconds today. She triumphed rather than merely competing. She was making waves in the 6th Indian Open Para Athletics Championships in Bangalore, where she won two gold medals, even before she gained all of this recognition on a global scale.