Jyothi Yarraji, the first Indian woman to qualify for the 100m hurdles event at the Olympics, is set to make history at the Paris Games. She secured her spot through the world ranking quota, marking a significant milestone in Indian athletics.
Yarraji’s journey to the Olympics is deeply influenced by her mother, Kumari, who worked tirelessly as a domestic help and cleaner at a local hospital in Visakhapatnam. Despite the struggles, Kumari instilled a positive mindset in Yarraji, encouraging her to focus on her own growth and well-being rather than worrying about the outcome of competitions.
In a virtual media interaction facilitated by Reliance Foundation, Yarraji reflected on her past struggles and how her mother’s guidance has helped her. “In the past, I did too much thinking, too much worried because of my family, my personal life and my background but I learnt a lot,” she said. “My situation is really bad sometimes. My mom always told me to just keep going forward because we can’t stop the present, past and the future.”
Yarraji’s mother emphasised the importance of self-satisfaction and personal growth over winning medals. “She told me ‘You work for yourself, whatever the result it will come we will take it’. My mom will never tell me before a competition to win a medal, to win a gold. She will tell me to go and be healthy and be self-satisfied with whatever I am doing. That is why I always go forward with a positive mindset.”
In addition to her mother’s support, Yarraji credits her current team, led by coach James Hillier, the Athletics Director at Reliance Foundation, for providing a positive environment that helps her stay focused. “In the past, there was no great team around me. Now I have lots of positive people, a team of great mentality around me. That is helping me a lot. I always take the positivity with me. I try to change the negative thought into positive one,” she said.
As Yarraji prepares for her debut Olympics, she acknowledges the pressure but remains confident. “I don’t have experience of (competing in the) Olympics but I am confident that it will go well. I have experience of Asian Championships, Asian Games and World Championships and I hope to take my plus points from there to the Olympics.” To manage the pressure, she is focusing on recovery and meditation to stay calm and focused.
Yarraji’s achievement is not only a personal milestone but also a testament to the growing prominence of Indian athletes on the global stage. Her presence at the Olympics will pave the way for future generations of Indian women hurdlers and contribute to the overall growth and diversification of Indian sports.