Nagoya, October 20, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
India’s Preethi Pal clinched the silver medal in the women’s 200m T35 event at the Asian Para Games in Nagoya, Japan, on Tuesday, earning her first medal at the continental competition.
Competing at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium, Preethi clocked 29.53 seconds to finish second behind China’s Xia Zhou, who claimed the gold medal with a time of 28.03 seconds.
Despite securing silver, Preethi was disappointed with the result, having entered the race hoping to win gold. “I don’t feel good. I thought I would get gold,” she said after the event.
Preethi led for much of the race, but Zhou overtook her in the closing stages. The Indian athlete said she had aimed to clock 28 seconds but was not feeling physically well on the day.
“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.
Preethi will now turn her attention to the women’s 100m sprint. “Anyway, tomorrow is the 100m race. Let’s focus on that,” she added.
A decorated para-athlete, Preethi has won two bronze medals at the Paralympic Games. Her achievements also include one 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.
Preethi faced significant physical challenges from birth. Her lower body was plastered six days after she was born, and she wore callipers from the age of five for eight years.
Her journey towards para athletics gained momentum after she watched the Paralympic Games on social media. Meeting fellow Paralympic athlete Fatima Khatoon proved to be a turning point, introducing her to the sport and setting her on a path to success at major international competitions.
FOLLOW NOW
