Preethi Pal wins silver in Women's 100m T35 at Asian Para Games
Synopsis
Preethi Pal, born to a farmer's family in rural UP and forced to wear callipers for eight years as a child, has won silver in the Women's 100m T35 at the Nagoya Asian Para Games — her second medal of the meet. The woman who became the first Indian female track-and-field athlete to win two Paralympic medals is now among India's most compelling para-sport stories.
Key Takeaways
Preethi Pal won silver in the Women's 100m T35 at the Asian Para Games in Nagoya on 21 October , clocking 29.53 seconds .
This is her second medal at the ongoing Games, following a silver in the Women's 200m T35 on 20 October .
She holds two Paralympic bronze medals and became the first Indian woman to win two track-and-field medals at the Olympics or Paralympics (Paris 2024).
Her career also includes a silver and three bronzes at the World Para Athletics Championships and four golds at Indian Open tournaments.
Preethi grew up in rural Uttar Pradesh , wore callipers for eight years , and was inspired to take up athletics at 17 by mentor Fathima Khatoon .
India's Preethi Pal claimed a silver medal in the Women's 100m T35 event at the Asian Para Games in Nagoya on Wednesday, 21 October, clocking an impressive time of 29.53 seconds. The achievement marks her second medal at the ongoing continental competition, having also won silver in the Women's 200m T35 event the previous day.
A Double Medallist in Nagoya
Preethi's back-to-back medals underline her growing dominance on the Asian para-athletics circuit. Competing in the T35 classification — designed for athletes with hypertonia, ataxia, or athetosis affecting coordination — she delivered a consistent performance across both sprint distances within 24 hours. This is her second appearance at the Asian Para Games, having made her international debut at the Hangzhou Asian Para Games in 2023.
An Exceptional Para-Athletics Career
Preethi is one of India's most decorated para athletes. She holds two bronze medals from the Paralympics, a silver and three bronze medals from the World Para Athletics Championships, four gold medals from the Indian Open tournaments, and a gold from the New Delhi Grand Prix.
Her most celebrated moment came at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games, where she clinched a bronze in the Women's 200m T35 to become the first Indian woman athlete to win two medals in track and field at the Olympics or Paralympics — a historic milestone for Indian para-sport. She had earlier bagged her maiden international medals with bronze finishes in both the 100m and 200m at the 2024 World Para Athletics Championship.
From a Rural UP Village to the World Stage
Preethi's journey to the medal podium began in deeply challenging circumstances. Born into a farmer's family in rural Uttar Pradesh, her lower body had to be plastered for six days after birth due to physical complications. Weak legs and an irregular leg posture made her susceptible to illness, and she required traditional treatments before having to wear callipers from the age of five — which she wore for eight years.
Despite widespread doubts about her survival, she defied the odds. Her interest in para-athletics was ignited at 17 after watching Paralympic clips on social media. The turning point came when she met her mentor, Paralympian Fathima Khatoon, who encouraged her to compete at district, state, and national levels before stepping onto the international stage.
What This Means for Indian Para-Sport
Preethi's twin medals at Nagoya reinforce India's steadily rising profile in para-athletics. Her trajectory — from a rural village with limited access to specialised care to a multi-medal international competitor — reflects the broader potential of grassroots para-sports development in the country. With the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics on the horizon, her form will be closely watched by national selectors and athletics officials alike.
Point of View
And without Fathima Khatoon, she may never have competed internationally at all. India's para-sports pipeline still depends too heavily on individual mentors and viral social media clips rather than structured, state-funded identification programmes. With the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics approaching, the question is whether the system can scale what Preethi represents, or whether her success will remain an inspiring outlier.
NationPress
21 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What medal did Preethi Pal win at the Asian Para Games 2026?
Preethi Pal won a silver medal in the Women's 100m T35 event at the Asian Para Games in Nagoya on 21 October, with a time of 29.53 seconds. It was her second medal of the meet, having also won silver in the 200m T35 on 20 October.
What is the T35 classification in para-athletics?
The T35 classification covers athletes with coordination impairments such as hypertonia, ataxia, or athetosis, typically resulting from conditions like cerebral palsy. Athletes in this class compete in track events using their own ambulatory ability, without a prosthetic or wheelchair.
Why is Preethi Pal historically significant for Indian athletics?
Preethi Pal became the first Indian woman to win two medals in track and field at the Olympics or Paralympics when she claimed bronze in the Women's 200m T35 at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games. No Indian female track athlete had previously achieved that feat at either Games.
How did Preethi Pal get into para-athletics?
Preethi developed an interest in para-sport at the age of 17 after watching Paralympic Games footage on social media. She later met Paralympian Fathima Khatoon, who mentored her through district, state, and national competitions before her international debut at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Para Games.
What other major medals has Preethi Pal won in her career?
Beyond her Paralympic bronzes, Preethi has won 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, making her one of India's most decorated active para-athletes.
