Preethi Pal has made India proud at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. She won two bronze medals in track and field events. This is a big achievement as no Indian woman has ever won two medals in track and field at the Paralympics or Olympics before.
Preethi won bronze in the women’s 200m T35 race. She ran her best time of 30.01 seconds. Two Chinese athletes, Xia Zhou and Guo Qianqian, won gold and silver. Earlier, Preethi also won bronze in the 100m T35 race. Her time was 14.21 seconds, which was her personal best. In this race too, Zhou and Guo won gold and silver.
Overcoming Challenges from Birth
Preethi’s journey to success wasn’t easy. She was born in a farmer’s family in Uttar Pradesh. From birth, she had problems with her legs. Doctors had to put plaster on her lower body for six days. As she grew up, her legs remained weak and she often fell ill.
To help her walk, Preethi wore leg braces from age 5 to 13. Many people thought she might not survive, but Preethi proved them wrong. She fought hard and became stronger.
From Village to Paralympic Podium
At 17, Preethi saw videos of Paralympic Games on social media. This made her interested in para-sports. Later, she met Paralympian Fathima Khatoon, who became her mentor. With Fathima’s help, Preethi started taking part in sports competitions.
To prepare for the Paris Paralympics, Preethi moved to Delhi. She trained under coach Gajender Singh at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. Her coach helped her improve her running style, which made her faster.
Before the Paralympics, Preethi won her first international medals at the World Para Athletics Championship in 2024. She got bronze in both 100m and 200m races. Now, with her Paralympic success, Preethi has shown that with hard work and determination, anything is possible.
For detailed story, please visit: Awaz the voice
Also Read:The Magic of Storytelling: Shazi Zaman
You can connect with DNN24 on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
