Preethi Pal wins silver in Women's 200m T35 at Asian Para Games 2025
Synopsis
Preethi Pal led China's Xia Zhou for 150 metres before fading in the final stretch, settling for silver in the Women's 200m T35 at the Asian Para Games in Nagoya. The Paris Paralympics double-bronze medallist was blunt about her disappointment — and immediately turned her focus to the 100m race the next day, with a bigger dream deferred to the next Paralympics.
Key Takeaways
Preethi Pal won silver in the Women's 200m T35 at the Asian Para Games 2025 in Nagoya, Japan on Tuesday.
She clocked 29.53 seconds ; gold went to China's Xia Zhou with 28.03 seconds .
Preethi led the race until the 150m mark before being overtaken in the final 30 metres .
This is her first Asian Para Games medal ; she previously won two bronze medals at the Paris Paralympics .
She is set to compete in the Women's 100m sprint at the same Games on Wednesday.
Indian para sprinter Preethi Pal claimed a silver medal in the Women's 200m T35 event at the Asian Para Games 2025 in Nagoya, Japan, on Tuesday, finishing second at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium. The result marks her first-ever medal at the Asian Para Games, though Preethi herself was far from satisfied with the outcome.
Race Result and Timing
Preethi clocked 29.53 seconds to take silver, finishing behind China's Xia Zhou, who won the gold with a time of 28.03 seconds. Preethi held the lead for the first 150 metres of the race but was overtaken in the closing stages, with the final 30 metres proving costly.
'I was leading the Chinese till 150m, but I got de-escalated in the end. My body isn't well; I thought I would clock 28 seconds on the ground and that was the mark at which the gold medal was won. The last 30 meters did not go well. Maybe the gold medal is destined for the Paralympics; let's hope for that,' she said after the event.
Preethi's Reaction
'I don't feel good. I thought I would get gold,' Preethi said candidly, noting that her physical condition affected her performance on the day. Despite the disappointment, she shifted focus quickly, adding: 'Anyway, tomorrow is the 100m race. Let's focus on that.' Preethi is set to compete in the Women's 100m sprint at the same Games.
A Decorated Para Athlete
Preethi's silver adds to an already formidable career record. She won two bronze medals at the Paris Paralympics and holds a silver and three bronze medals at the World Para Athletics Championships. Domestically, she has claimed four gold medals at the Indian Open tournaments and a gold at the New Delhi Grand Prix.
Notably, her journey to elite para athletics was anything but straightforward. Born with significant physical challenges, her lower body was plastered just six days after birth, and she wore callipers from the age of five for eight years. Her exposure to the Paralympic movement through social media, and a pivotal meeting with para athlete Fatima Khatoon, set her on the path to competitive sport.
What to Watch Next
All eyes will now be on Preethi's 100m sprint appearance at the Asian Para Games, where she will look to convert silver-medal form into gold. Her comments suggest strong motivation and a longer-term eye on the next Paralympic cycle.
Point of View
But the bigger story is in what she said afterwards. A para athlete who fought through physical adversity from birth, who held the race lead for three-quarters of the distance, and who still finished with frustration rather than relief — that is the profile of someone building toward something larger. Her explicit reference to the next Paralympic cycle as the destination for gold suggests this Asian Para Games appearance is part of a deliberate arc, not a standalone campaign. India's para athletics pipeline remains thin at the very top, and Preethi's consistent performance at the world's biggest stages makes her one of the clearest bets in that cohort. The 100m on Wednesday is now the real measure of where she stands heading into the next cycle.
NationPress
20 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What medal did Preethi Pal win at the Asian Para Games 2025?
Preethi Pal won a silver medal in the Women's 200m T35 event at the Asian Para Games 2025 in Nagoya, Japan. It is her first-ever Asian Para Games medal.
What was Preethi Pal's time in the Women's 200m T35 final?
Preethi Pal clocked 29.53 seconds in the Women's 200m T35 final. China's Xia Zhou won gold with a faster time of 28.03 seconds.
Why was Preethi Pal disappointed despite winning silver?
Preethi had led the race until the 150m mark and hoped to clock 28 seconds, the time at which gold was won. She cited poor physical condition on the day as a factor, saying the final 30 metres did not go well.
What other medals has Preethi Pal won in her career?
Preethi Pal has won two bronze medals at the Paris Paralympics, a silver and three bronze medals at the World Para Athletics Championships, four gold medals at Indian Open tournaments, and a gold at the New Delhi Grand Prix.
What is Preethi Pal's next event at the Asian Para Games?
Preethi Pal is scheduled to compete in the Women's 100m sprint at the Asian Para Games in Nagoya on Wednesday, the day after her 200m silver medal finish.
