Preeti Pal: Overcoming Inner Challenges to Achieve Paralympic Success

Feb 16, 2026

67 min

Feb 16, 2026 23:30

The first competition is within yourself, Paralympic star Preeti Pal says

## Early Life and Realization

Preeti Pal, a 25-year-old Paralympic athlete from Hashimpur, India, was born with cerebral palsy. Growing up, she was unaware of the Paralympic Games until a chance encounter with videos of Paralympic athletes on social media inspired her. This discovery ignited her ambition to compete internationally.

## Journey to Success

Pal's initial foray into athletics was marked by a local 100m race victory, which bolstered her self-belief. Despite facing limited opportunities and competing only at the state level for nearly five years, she persevered. Her breakthrough came at the Kobe 2024 World Championships, where she secured two bronze medals in the 100m and 200m T35 events.

## Achievements on the Global Stage

Her success continued at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, where she won two bronze medals, becoming one of India's standout athletes. Her family's pride was immense, especially since they had never traveled internationally.

## Recent Triumphs

At the Fazza International Para Athletics Championships in Dubai, Pal's performance was outstanding, earning her a gold in the 100m T35 and a silver in the 200m T35. Her achievements contributed to India's top position on the medals table with 16 golds out of 43 total medals.

## Looking Ahead

Preeti Pal remains focused on improving her personal bests and continues to represent India with pride on the international stage.

Read the full story at the source

What you need to know to get Emirates ID?

Leave your details and get a guide as a gift to avoid mistakes

Article contents