On a remarkable day for India at the Paris Paralympics, Preethi Pal made history by clinching a bronze medal in the women’s 100m T35 final on Friday. This achievement is especially significant as the T35 category is designated for athletes with coordination impairments, such as hypertonia, ataxia, and athetosis, including individuals with cerebral palsy.
Hailing from Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, Preethi Pal has overcome numerous challenges related to her cerebral palsy, particularly in accessing proper treatment in her hometown. Currently, she trains under the guidance of coach Gajendra Singh in Delhi, who also coaches fellow athlete Simran Sharma. Pal’s journey to success has been inspiring; she previously earned a bronze medal at the World Para Athletics Championships in Kobe, Japan, in May 2024, clocking 30.49 seconds in the women’s T35 200m event and securing an Olympic quota. Earlier in March 2024, she won two gold medals at the 6th Indian Open Para Athletics Championships in Bangalore.
In addition to Pal’s success, Friday also saw Avani Lekhara win her second consecutive Paralympic gold medal in the women’s 10m air rifle (SH1) event, with compatriot Mona Agarwal taking bronze. Avani, who became the first Indian woman shooter to win medals at the Tokyo Paralympics in 2021, broke her own record with a score of 249.7.
However, the day also brought disappointment for Indian discus throwers Sakshi Kasana and Karamjyoti Dalal, who both missed out on medals in the women’s discus throw F55 final. Despite their best efforts, with Sakshi’s best throw reaching 21.49 meters and Karamjyoti’s 20.22 meters, they were unable to secure a podium finish.
