A silver lining! Preethi Pal won her second silver at the Asian Para Games with the sprint double
NEW DELHI: India’s Preethi Pal continued her impressive run at the 2026 Asian Para Games and claimed her second silver medal at the continental event on Wednesday by finishing second in the women’s 100m T35 event.Preethi clocked 13.98 seconds to secure silver to add to the medal she won in the women’s 200m T35 on Tuesday. The double podium finish further underlined the consistency of the Indian para-athlete on the track.
From rural Uttar Pradesh to the international stage
Preethi overcame significant physical challenges to establish herself among India’s leading para-athletes. Born in a farmer’s family in rural Uttar Pradesh, she faced difficulties from birth due to leg weakness and irregular foot posture.Her legs were cast six days after birth and she underwent traditional treatment to strengthen them. At the age of five, she started wearing stirrups, which she used for the next eight years.She got into parasports at the age of 17, when videos of the Paralympic Games on social media sparked her interest in athletics. Her journey gained momentum after she met Paralympian and mentor Fathima Khatoon, who encouraged her to compete at district, state and national levels.Preethi made her international debut at the 2023 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou before making her big breakthrough at the 2024 World Para Athletics Championships where she won bronze medals in the 100m and 200m.
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Paralympic medals and a growing record
Preethi further enhanced her reputation at the 2024 Paris Paralympics by winning bronze medals in the T35 women’s 100m and 200m events. She became the first Indian woman to win two track and field medals at a single Paralympic Games.Her achievements also include a silver and three bronze medals at the World Para Athletics Championships, four gold medals at the Indian Open and a gold at the New Delhi Grand Prix.With two silver medals already secured at the Asian Para Games, Preethi added another significant chapter to her career, demonstrating the resilience and consistency that marked her rise in international para athletics.