Aichi-Nagoya, 21 October (H.S.): India’s para-athlete Preethi Pal won the silver medal in the women’s 100m T35 event at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games 2026, finishing second with a time of 13.98 seconds.

China’s Zhou Xia clinched the gold medal in 13.57 seconds, while Iraq’s Fatima Suwaid secured the bronze after clocking 14.68 seconds.

The silver medal marked Preethi’s second podium finish at the ongoing Games. On Tuesday, she had also won silver in the women’s 200m T35 event, finishing second in 29.53 seconds. Zhou Xia of China claimed gold in that race with a time of 28.03 seconds.

Hailing from Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh, Preethi competes in the T35 classification, which is intended for athletes with coordination impairments. At birth, her lower body had to be placed in a cast. Weakness and an abnormal structure in her legs presented several challenges during her childhood. She used calipers for eight years but remained determined to pursue her sporting ambitions despite the difficulties.

Preethi was inspired to pursue a career in para-athletics after watching the Paralympic Games at the age of 17. After competing in a state-level para-athletics championship in 2018, she went on to participate in several national competitions. At the 2022 Asian Para Games, she finished fourth in both the 100m and 200m events.

Preethi won bronze medals in the women’s 100m and 200m events at the Paris Paralympic Games in 2024. She also secured one silver and one bronze medal at the 2025 World Para Athletics Championships. In 2026, she won gold medals at the New Delhi Grand Prix and Indian Open competitions.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar