Under the bright lights of Dubai, with the world watching and nearly 400 elite para-athletes from 46 nations lining up for glory, India’s sprint sensation Preeti Pal sent a powerful message to the global athletics community. Clocking 14.32 seconds in the Women’s 100m T35/36 final, she stormed to gold at the season-opening World Para Athletics Grand Prix meet. The 17th edition of the Fazza International Para Athletics Championships is not just another event on the calendar. It marks the beginning of a new competitive year, a stage where Paralympic champions and world medallists test their form and set the tone for what lies ahead. 

Preeti did more than win a race; she set the rhythm for India’s 2026 para-sport campaign. Her performance was described by officials from the Paralympic Committee of India and the Athletics Federation of India as a major confidence boost early in the season. With high-stakes events such as the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya approaching later this year, Dubai was more than a podium finish—it was a declaration.

From Paris to Dubai: A Champion’s Growing Legacy

Preeti Pal’s golden run in Dubai is part of a larger story—one that has steadily reshaped India’s presence in global para-athletics. At the Paris 2024 Paralympics, she etched her name in history by winning two bronze medals in the women’s 100m and 200m T35 events. In doing so, she became the first Indian woman to claim two track medals at a single Paralympic Games. That achievement was not an isolated spark. It was built on years of persistence, heartbreak, and gradual progress. 

At the 2022 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, she narrowly missed out on medals—twice. Those near misses could have defined her career. Instead, they refined it. In May 2024, she won a bronze medal at the World Para Athletics Championships in Kobe, Japan, and secured her Paralympic quota with an impressive 30.49 seconds in the T35 200m event. The same year, she dominated domestically, clinching two gold medals at the 6th Indian Open Para Athletics Championships in Bengaluru. Her upward curve continued at the 2025 World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi, where she secured silver in the women’s 100m T35. That medal confirmed what experts were already noticing: Preeti was no longer an emerging name. She was a consistent force at the highest level.

Understanding the T35 Category and the Significance

To appreciate Preeti’s achievement, one must understand the T35 classification. The T35 category in para-athletics includes athletes with coordination impairments such as hypertonia, ataxia, or athetosis. Sprinting at elite speed under such conditions demands extraordinary control, balance, and strength. A time of 14.32 seconds in this classification at the start of a season is not merely competitive; it is strategic. Early-season races often indicate how well an athlete has trained in the off-season. For Preeti, Dubai was proof that her preparation has aligned perfectly with her ambitions. Her victory in the combined T35/36 final also highlights her ability to perform under complex race conditions, where multiple classifications compete together. Tactical awareness and mental sharpness become just as important as raw speed. 

Born on 22 September 2000, Preeti’s journey into athletics was shaped by challenge, adaptation, and discipline. Sprinting is often described as the purest form of sport—just an athlete, a lane, and a finish line. But for para-athletes, the race also includes overcoming societal barriers, limited facilities, and constant self-doubt.

A Season of Rising Expectations

Expectations now follow her wherever she competes. That is the cost and privilege of success. But if Dubai is any indication, she is ready. The 2026 International Grand Prix season has only just begun, yet Preeti Pal has already delivered one of its defining moments. In 14.32 seconds, she reminded the world that consistency is the mark of greatness. As the year unfolds, the races will get tougher, the fields stronger, and the margins thinner. But for now, the image is clear: Preeti crossing the finish line in Dubai, arms rising, gold secured, not just opening a season, but igniting it.