Preethi Pal Makes History with Bronze in Women’s 100m T35 at Paris Paralympics
New Delhi: Preethi Pal etched her name in Paralympic history on August 29, 2024, by winning a bronze medal in the women’s 100m T35 event at the Paris Paralympics. The 23-year-old athlete clocked a personal best time of 14.21 seconds, marking India’s first-ever medal in a track event at the Paralympic Games. This remarkable achievement highlights her dedication and the growing prowess of Indian athletes on the global stage.
Pal’s bronze not only signifies a historic moment for Indian athletics but also contributes to the nation’s medal tally at the 2024 Paralympics, which now stands at three. Earlier the same day, Avani Lekhara continued her impressive Paralympic journey by clinching gold in the women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1. Mona Agarwal also shone brightly by securing a bronze medal in the same event, showcasing India’s strong performance in shooting sports.
China’s Zhou Xia and Guo Qianqian took the gold and silver medals in the women’s 100m T35, with times of 13.58 seconds and 13.74 seconds respectively. Preethi Pal’s performance in this highly competitive field underscores her exceptional skill and determination, making her the first Indian to achieve a Paralympic track medal.
This bronze medal is also significant as it becomes the 18th athletics medal for India at the Paralympics, although all previous medals were in field events. In addition to Pal’s achievement, Manish Narwal added to the day’s success by winning silver in the men’s 10m air pistol, bringing India’s total medal count for the day to four, a remarkable feat reflecting the country’s growing strength in para-sports.
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