Indian athlete Preethi Pal etched her name in Paralympic history on August 30, 2024, by winning India's first-ever medal in the 100m event. She secured a bronze medal in the women's 100m T35 final at the Paris Paralympics, setting a new personal best of 14.21 seconds.
Preethi Pal Wins Historic Bronze Medal at Paralympics
The 24-year-old from Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, delivered an outstanding performance, finishing third behind two Chinese athletes. Xia Zhou claimed the gold medal with a time of 13.58 seconds, while Qianqian Guo secured the silver with a time of 13.74 seconds. Preethi Pal's bronze medal marked India's third medal at the 17th Summer Paralympic Games, showcasing the country's growing strength in para-athletics. Her achievement is a testament to her hard work, dedication, and unwavering spirit.
Women's 100m T35 results
Xia Zhou (China) - 13.58 (SB)
Qianqian Gou (China) - 13.74 (PB)
Preethi Pal (India) - 14.21 (PB)
Preethi Pal's Road to Paralympic Success
Preethi Pal secured her place at the Paris Paralympics by winning a bronze medal at the World Para Athletics Championships 2024 in Kobe earlier this year. This impressive achievement demonstrated her exceptional talent and potential for success. Although she narrowly missed out on medals at the Para Asian Games in Hangzhou last year, Preethi Pal remained a formidable competitor. Her strong performances and consistent improvement made her a promising candidate for a medal at the Paris Paralympics.
ALSO READ: Exclusive | 'Not played any red-ball cricket...': Suresh Raina opens up on Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli not playing Duleep Trophy
Preethi Pal's bronze medal added to India's growing medal tally at the 2024 Para Games. Earlier in the day, Avani Lekhara and Mona Agarwal had won gold and bronze, respectively, in the women's 10m air rifle standing SH1 final.
MORE ON SPORTS TAK:
WATCH: 'I respect everyone, but...': Jasprit Bumrah opens up on batsmen tough to bowl to
