Who is Preethi Pal, the debutant who won first medal in athletics of India at Paris?Paralympics 2024?
Indian para-athletes continued their impressive performances on Friday, day 2 of the ongoing Paralympics 2024 in Paris. India opened its account in the athletics competitions at the Paris Paralympics with a bronze medal as sprinter Preethi Pal finished third in the Women's 100m - T35 Final.
Preethi Pal wins bronze, clocks her personal best
The 23-year-old Preethi clocked 14.21 seconds, which is also her personal best, to finish third.
Who is?Preethi Pal
Preethi, a resident of Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, was born to a farmer¡¯s family. She faced significant physical challenges from the day she was born, as her lower body had to be plastered for six days after birth. Weak legs and an irregular leg posture meant she was prone to various diseases.
Preethi underwent various traditional treatments to strengthen her legs but had to start wearing calipers at the age of five and wore them for eight years. Despite many doubting her survival, she proved to be a fighter, overcoming life-threatening conditions to demonstrate incredible strength and resilience.
Also read:?Manu Bhaker congratulates Avani Lekhara for winning gold at Paris Paralympics 2024
How another Paralympian inspired her?
She got interested in para-sports at the age of 17 after watching clips of the Paralympic Games on social media. Her life changed a few years after starting to practice athletics when she met her mentor, Paralympian Fathima Khatoon.
Encouraged by Fathima, Preethi took part in district, state, and national competitions and made her international appearance at the Asian Para Games in 2023.
Preethi bagged her first international medal in the World Para Athletics Championship, where she claimed bronze medals in both the 100m and 200m events in 2024.
Can she win a second medal?
In her Paralympics debut, Preethi fulfilled her dream by bagging a bronze medal in the Women's 100m T35. Preethi has the chance to win her second medal in the Paralympics, as she will also compete in the 200m event scheduled for Sunday, September 1.?
Preethi had won the bronze medal in the Women's 200m T35 at the World Para Athletics Championships in Kobe, Japan, earlier this year.
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