World Para Athletics Grand Prix: Preeti Pal Unhappy Despite 100m Gold, Eyes Stronger 200m Run

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New Delhi, March 12: One quality that separates elite athletes from the rest is their refusal to be satisfied with their own performances. The hunger to improve keeps the competitive fire alive, pushing them to get better every time they step onto the field of play. The same trait was on display from Preeti Pal, who despite winning gold remained critical of her own run at the New Delhi 2026 World Para Athletics Grand Prix.

The Paris Paralympics double medallist clinched the women's 100m T35 gold medal at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, clocking 14.46 seconds to finish on top of the podium on the opening day of the competition on Wednesday (March 11).

While the result added another international title to her growing list of achievements, the 25-year-old para athlete from Uttar Pradesh admitted she expected a faster time.

"My timing today was around 14.4 seconds. Earlier I had clocked 14.2 seconds, and I was hoping to run somewhere around 13.8 seconds," Preeti told MyKhel after the race.

She felt the lack of close competition in the race may have prevented her from pushing harder in the final phase. "The weather conditions were good. But maybe if someone had been very close to me in the race, I would have pushed harder. When you feel someone coming up beside you, it helps you pull more speed," she explained.

The relatively smaller overseas participation at the New Delhi World Para Athletics Grand Prix 2026 has been widely noted, with organisers attributing it to factors beyond their control. According to an earlier myKhel report, World Para Athletics president Paul Fitzgerald explained that the lower turnout of foreign athletes was partly due to travel disruptions caused by the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict in the Middle East, which has led to flight delays and cancellations across major transit hubs in the Gulf region.

Earlier this year, Preeti had competed in the Dubai 2026 World Para Athletics Grand Prix in February, where she clocked 14.2 seconds in the 100m event. Comparing that performance with her run in New Delhi, she felt she could have delivered a quicker time in front of the home crowd.

Despite her slight disappointment with the timing, Preeti remains focused on the next challenge - the 200m race scheduled later in the competition. "The 200m event is the day after tomorrow, and I will try to do well in that. I don't want to make excuses; I just want to improve my performance," she said.

Preeti's rise in international para athletics has been remarkable in recent years. She created history at the 2024 Summer Paralympics, winning bronze medals in both the women's 100m and 200m T35 events, becoming the first Indian woman to win two track-and-field medals at a Paralympic Games.

Since that breakthrough moment in Paris, expectations surrounding the young sprinter have grown significantly. "My life has changed a lot in the last two years. Earlier not many people knew about me, but now there is more pressure because people expect good results from a Paralympic medallist," she said.

However, Preeti believes that such expectations can be a positive force. "It is good pressure because it pushes you to improve and perform better," she added.

She also emphasised the importance of competing regularly on the international circuit, saying that race exposure helps athletes perform better in major competitions. "The more competitions we take part in, the less fear we have during big events. That helps us perform our best when it really matters," she said.

Preeti credited the support provided by the Paralympic Committee of India and other support systems for helping athletes focus on training and recovery.

"We are getting proper rehab sessions, recovery support and diet. If we need to compete in international events, they help us with opportunities," she said.

With upcoming events including the 2026 Asian Para Games, Preeti remains determined to keep improving her timings and continue adding to her medal tally.

For now, however, her focus remains on the immediate task - delivering a stronger performance in the 200m race in New Delhi on Friday (March 13).