Paris Paralympics: Preethi Pal Makes History with Double Medal Win, Nishad Kumar Secures 2nd Successive Silver

Paris: Preethi Pal etched her name in history as the first Indian woman track and field athlete to win two medals at a single Paralympics. The 23-year-old claimed a bronze in the 200m T35 category at the Paris Paralympics with a personal best time of 30.01 seconds on Sunday. This follows her earlier bronze in the 100m T35 category on Friday, making her only the second Indian woman to win two Paralympics medals, after Avani Lekhara’s gold and bronze in Tokyo 2021.

In the 200m T35 event, China’s Zhou Xia clinched gold with a time of 28.15 seconds, while Guo Qianqian, also from China, took silver with 29.09 seconds. The T35 classification is designated for athletes with coordination impairments.

Later, Nishad Kumar added to India’s medal tally by winning silver in the men’s high jump T47 category, clearing a height of 2.04m, his season’s best. Nishad had previously won silver at the Tokyo Paralympics with a 2.06m jump. Despite fierce competition, he was edged out by American Townsend Roderick, who set a new record with a 2.12m jump. Another Indian participant, Ram Pal, finished seventh with a personal best of 1.95m.

Preethi, hailing from Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh, overcame significant physical challenges from birth. Her lower body was plastered for six days, and she later wore callipers for eight years to strengthen her legs. Her journey into para-athletics began at 17, inspired by Paralympian Fatima Khatoon.

Nishad Kumar’s path has been marked by determination and resilience, inspired by his mother, a former state-level athlete. Starting with wrestling and athletics, he later specialised in javelin throw and began receiving professional coaching in 2017. His international debut at the Asian Youth Para Games saw him winning gold, and he continued his success at the 2023 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou and the 2024 World Para Athletics Championship in Japan.

In other events, Ravi Rongali finished fifth in the men’s F40 shot put final, achieving a personal best of 10.63m. Rakshita Raju exited in the opening round of the women’s 1500m T11 race. World record holder Miguel Montero of Portugal won the shot put gold with a throw of 11.21m.