Practice makes it perfect for Preethi 

A youngster from Uttar Pradesh who had weak and irregular leg posture at birth now sprints past the finish line on the globe’s biggest stages.

Para athlete Preethi Pal, affected by cerebral palsy, overcame all odds to specialise in the women’s T35 sprint category. “I never thought I was weak in any way. That’s when an athlete can give their 100 percent,” she told The Hindu on the sidelines of the 7th Indian Open para athletics championship here on Saturday.

Under coach Gajendra Singh, Preethi climbed through national and international ranks. Her career highlight came when she won bronze medals in the women’s 100m and 200m events in the Paris Paralympics last year. She became the first Indian woman to to win two medals in track and field events at the Paralympic Games.

“I never thought I would win medals in the Paralympics. I just wanted to give my personal best. But now, I will try my very best to change the colour of my medals,” Preethi said.

In the 7th Indian Open para athletics championships held here over the last two days, she clinched gold in the T35 women’s 100m, clocking 15.00s. On Saturday, the 24-year-old took the T35 200m title with a timing 31.40s, defeating her nearest rival by almost 13 seconds.

“Youngsters should never underestimate themselves. If you practice hard, you can run fast,” Preethi said.