Daily Wage Worker’s Daughter Runs to Gold: Deepthi Jeevanji Smashes Record at World Para Athletics

Deepthi Jeevanji, a rising star in Indian athletics, defied limitations to clinch gold at the World Para Athletics Championships in Kobe, Japan, on Monday. The daughter of daily wage workers from Kalleda in Warangal, Jeevanji’s journey to the top podium is a testament to her dedication and the power of support.

Just a few years ago, affording a bus ticket to train in Hyderabad seemed like a distant dream for Jeevanji. Today, she stands tall as a world champion, shattering the women’s 400-metre T20 world record with a phenomenal time of 55.07 seconds. This eclipses the previous record of 55.12 seconds set by American Breanna Clark at the 2023 World Championships in Paris.

Jeevanji dominated the race from the start, leading the pack for the first half. In a thrilling finish, she displayed exceptional grit, outlasting a strong push from Clark in the final meters to secure victory. Aysel Onder of Turkey and Lizanshela Angulo of Ecuador bagged silver and bronze respectively, clocking 55.19 and 56.68 seconds. The T20 classification is for athletes with intellectual disabilities.

Jeevanji’s remarkable achievement is a culmination of hard work and the support she received from the Gopichand-Mytrah Foundation, a talent hunt program spearheaded by renowned coach Pullela Gopichand. The foundation has played a pivotal role in nurturing her potential and propelling her towards athletic excellence.