Born on August 28, 1999, in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, Yarraji’s journey to international recognition was shaped by resilience as much as raw talent. Growing up in a financially constrained household, her father worked as a private security guard while her mother supplemented the family income through part-time cleaning jobs at a city hospital. Limited resources meant that pursuing sport was never easy, but it also instilled in Yarraji a determination to succeed against the odds.
Her athletic promise first came to light during her school years at Port High School Krishna in Visakhapatnam. A physical education teacher noticed her height, speed and natural agility—attributes well-suited for hurdling—and encouraged her to take up the discipline seriously. What followed was a steady progression through domestic competitions, marked by both breakthroughs and setbacks.
The early phase of Yarraji’s career was defined by frustration as much as potential. She recorded several eye-catching times that could have rewritten national records, only for them to be invalidated due to technical factors such as wind assistance or procedural lapses. Despite the disappointment, she continued to train and compete with consistency, gradually building her reputation as one of India’s most reliable hurdlers.
Her long-awaited official breakthrough came in May 2022 at the Cyprus International Meet in Limassol. There, Yarraji clocked 13.23 seconds in the women’s 100m hurdles, breaking a national record that had stood for over two decades. The performance marked a turning point, not just validating her talent but also signalling her arrival on the international stage.
Since then, Yarraji has delivered multiple sub-13 second runs, secured podium finishes at major Asian and international meets, and emerged as a regular contender against the continent’s best hurdlers. Still in her mid-20s, she now stands as a symbol of India’s growing competitiveness in sprint hurdling, a discipline long dominated by athletes from outside the region.
Jyothi Yarraji’s journey—from a modest upbringing in Visakhapatnam to becoming an Asian champion and national record-holder—reflects a broader shift in Indian athletics. Her success underscores the impact of perseverance, structured training and opportunity, and positions her as a key figure in India’s quest for sustained excellence on the global track and field stage.
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