Post by : Meena Ariff

Indian athlete Jyothi Yarraji has made the country proud once again. She won the gold medal in the women’s 100m hurdles at the 2025 Asian Athletics Championships held in Gumi, South Korea. This big win happened on May 29, 2025, and it is one of the greatest moments in Indian athletics.

Jyothi Yarraji finished the race in 12.96 seconds, which is a championship record. With this run, she also became the first Indian woman to run the 100m hurdles in under 13 seconds. This is a huge achievement for India.

Race Held in an Empty Stadium

This gold medal came in a very unusual situation. Heavy rain hit the city during the event. Because of the rain, all the people were asked to leave the stadium for safety reasons. As a result, Jyothi Yarraji ran the final race in a completely empty stadium.

There were no cheers, no claps, and no crowd noise. Still, she stayed calm and focused. After winning, Jyothi said that she felt very strange because there was no one around when she crossed the finish line. She shared that this was the first time in many years that she shouted with happiness after a race.

How the Race Went

At the start of the race, Jyothi Yarraji was slightly behind the other runners. But after crossing the eighth hurdle, she picked up speed. Her strong steps and balance helped her move ahead of athletes from Japan and China. She finished first with great speed and control.

Final Results:

• Gold: Jyothi Yarraji (India) – 12.96 seconds

• Silver: Yumi Tanaka (Japan) – 13.04 seconds

• Bronze: Yanni Wu (China) – 13.12 seconds

Smart Change in Running Style

This season, Jyothi Yarraji made a smart decision. She went back to using the eight-step style between hurdles. Earlier, she tried a seven-step style at the Paris Olympics, which did not work well and caused mistakes. That race ended in disappointment.

Her coach, James Hillier, praised her choice. He said Jyothi followed the race plan perfectly. She is now stronger, fitter, and more confident. This change also helped her avoid injuries and stay safe.

From Small Village to Big Stage

Jyothi Yarraji comes from Pombaram village near Visakhapatnam. Her journey has not been easy. She started as a long jumper and later changed to hurdles in 2017. In her early days, she faced many problems.

She often borrowed running shoes, trained with simple tools, and struggled with money. Later, she got support to train in Hyderabad, which helped her grow as an athlete.

Past Wins and Tough Times

Jyothi Yarraji has seen both success and struggle in her career:

• 2023: Won Asian gold in Bangkok during heavy rain

• 2024: Set national record but had a tough Olympic outing

• Early 2025: Won 200m gold at National Games

• May 2025: Defended Asian title with record time

She also had a hamstring injury in April 2025, but she worked hard and made a strong comeback.

What’s Next for Jyothi Yarraji

After this gold medal, Jyothi Yarraji is now aiming for the 2026 World Championships in Tokyo. To qualify, she needs to run 12.73 seconds. Experts believe she can reach this goal soon.

Sports officials praised her performance and called her a symbol of hard work and hope. Support from sports programs has also helped improve her training and facilities.

Social Media Love

Videos of Jyothi Yarraji getting her medal in an empty stadium are now going viral. People across India are praising her courage and talent. Many also feel sad that such a big moment happened without a live audience.

At 1.78 meters tall, Jyothi Yarraji is now a role model for young girls, especially from villages. Her story shows that with hard work, right guidance, and strong belief, dreams can come true.

#Global News #Sports News