Deepthi Jeevanji, hailing from a humble background as the daughter of daily-wage laborers in Telangana's Warangal, made history by clinching the gold medal in the women's 400m T20 race at the World Para Athletics Championships in Japan. Her remarkable achievement included setting a new world record time of 55.07 seconds, surpassing the previous record set by Breanna Clark of the US in Paris in 2023.
For Deepthi, this victory is a testament to her resilience and determination, as she overcame various challenges to reach this pinnacle of success. Despite facing financial constraints, she persevered and trained rigorously. Notably, she struggled to afford transportation to Hyderabad for training sessions just a few years ago.
In the championship race, Deepthi displayed exceptional strength and strategy, leading the first 200 meters with confidence. Although her competitor, Breanna Clark, closed in towards the finish, Deepthi summoned her last reserves of energy in the final meters, ensuring her victory. The race concluded with Turkey's Aysel Onder securing second place and Ecuador's Lizanshela Angulo finishing third.
The T20 classification underlines the achievements of athletes with intellectual disabilities, highlighting Deepthi's prowess in overcoming obstacles both on and off the track. Deepthi's athletic journey has also been supported by the Gopichand-Mytrah Foundation, an initiative led by coach Pullela Gopichand aimed at nurturing athletic talent. Her success is not only a personal triumph but also a source of inspiration for aspiring athletes across the globe.
