Paralympics 2024: Deepthi Jeevanji created history in the Paris Paralympic Games.
Photo : Twitter
India’s Deepthi Jeevanji has bagged a bronze medal in the women’s 400m T20 final. She clocked 55.82s and finished third behind Aysel Onder of Turkey and Yuliia Shuliar of Ukraine.
Deepthi, who turns 21 later this month, finished behind Yuliia Shuliar (55.16 seconds) of Ukraine and world record holder Aysel Onder (55.23) of Turkey.
T20 category is meant for athletes with intellectual impairment.
India’s overall medal count increased by one to 16, including three gold medals, and track-and-field has so far contributed half a dozen to this tally. The country is currently placed 18th in the standings.
The rather quiet day was in sharp contrast to the medal rush on Monday when India logged seven podium finishes, including two golds.
Daughter of farm labourers from Kalleda Village in Telangana’s Warangal district, Jeevanji was diagnosed with intellectual impairment after being spotted at a school level athletics meet by one of her teachers.
Growing up, she and her parents were subjected to taunts by natives of her village due to her disability.
However, the same village has been celebrating her ever since she won a gold at last year’s Asian Para Games before breaking the world record at the Para World Championships in May this year to fetch another gold.
The youngster was also assisted by national badminton coach Pullela Gopichand after she began training with her formative coach Nagpuri Ramesh.
(With PTI Inputs)
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