Preethi Pal Makes History at the 2024 Paris Paralympics

In a groundbreaking achievement for Indian athletics, Preethi Pal has etched her name in history as the first Indian woman track and field athlete to win two medals at the Paralympics. Competing in the women’s 200m T35 category, she secured a bronze medal with a remarkable personal best time of 30.01 seconds in Paris.

The 23-year-old athlete, hailing from Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh, has now joined the esteemed ranks of Indian medalists, becoming only the second Indian woman to win two medals—both bronze—in a single Paralympics, replicating the feat achieved by shooter Avani Lekhara during the Tokyo Games.

Preethi’s latest triumph adds to India’s tally at the ongoing 2024 Paris Paralympics, where she previously won a bronze medal in the women’s T35 100m competition with a personal best time of 14.21 seconds. This milestone marks a significant shift in India’s performance in para-athletics, which had predominantly seen medals won in field events since 1984.

The T35 classification accommodates athletes with coordination impairments, a category in which Preethi has showcased her incredible talent. Her outstanding performance comes as no surprise, given her challenging journey from facing severe physical difficulties at birth to emerging as a medalist on a global platform.

Notably, Preethi has received vital support throughout her career, including training under Coach Gajender Singh in Delhi and financial assistance through the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS). This backing has been instrumental in her journey from local competitions to the international arena.

On the same day, India’s Ravi Rongali finished fifth in the men’s F40 shot put final, achieving a personal best of 10.63 meters, while Rakshita Raju competed in the women’s 1500m T11 race but unfortunately did not advance.