Jyothi Yarraji delivered a standout performance at the Asian Athletics Championships 2025 in Gumi, clocking an impressive 12.96 seconds to defend her women’s 100m hurdles title. Battling challenging rain-soaked conditions, the Indian athlete not only retained her gold medal but also set a new championship record, underlining her authority at the continental level.
The commanding run further strengthened Yarraji’s reputation as one of Asia’s most dependable sprint hurdlers. Her journey — from limited financial means to world-class training facilities — reflects years of discipline, technical refinement and perseverance. At just 25, she is now widely regarded as being in the peak phase of her athletic career, playing a crucial role in elevating India’s profile in women’s track events.
Early Life, Background and Age
Born on August 28, 1999, in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, Jyothi Yarraji comes from a humble background. Her father worked as a private security guard, while her mother supported the family through hospital cleaning jobs. Despite financial challenges, sport emerged as a turning point in her life.
Her talent was first spotted during her school years at Port High School Krishna, Visakhapatnam, where her natural agility, height and coordination set her apart. Even at a young age, she demonstrated strong focus and discipline — qualities that later became central to her success in hurdling.
Training Journey and Technical Development
Jyothi began competitive athletics in 2015, winning gold at an Andhra Pradesh inter-district meet. A year later, she joined the Sports Authority of India (SAI) centre in Hyderabad, where she trained under Olympian and Dronacharya awardee N Ramesh, building a strong technical base.
A major turning point came in 2019, when she moved to the Odisha Reliance Athletics High Performance Centre in Bhubaneswar. Under British coach James Hillier, she fine-tuned her hurdle technique, sprint mechanics and race execution. This phase marked her transition from a strong domestic athlete to a consistent international competitor.
Records, Setbacks and Key Breakthroughs
Early in her career, Yarraji clocked several fast timings, but many were disqualified due to wind assistance or technical procedural issues. Persistence paid off in May 2022, when she ran 13.23 seconds at the Cyprus International Meet, officially breaking India’s long-standing national record in the 100m hurdles.
From that point onward, she consistently delivered sub-13-second performances across major competitions. Her ability to sustain form season after season became one of her defining strengths on the international circuit.
Medals and Continental Achievements
Jyothi’s biggest continental breakthrough came at the Asian Athletics Championships 2023, where she won gold in the women’s 100m hurdles. The same year, she added a bronze medal at the FISU World University Games and a silver at the Asian Games, proving her consistency across multi-sport events.
In 2025, she successfully defended her Asian Championships crown in Gumi, setting a new meet record and reaffirming her position among Asia’s elite hurdlers.
Olympics, Awards and Future Goals
Jyothi made her Olympic debut at the Paris 2024 Games, where she exited in the repechage round. While the result fell short of expectations, the exposure contributed significantly to her competitive maturity at the global level.
In recognition of her achievements and contribution to Indian athletics, she was honoured with the Arjuna Award in 2024. Looking ahead, her focus remains on sharpening reaction times, improving hurdle rhythm and enhancing overall race efficiency, with strong ambitions for upcoming World Championships.
At 25, Jyothi Yarraji symbolizes the new generation of Indian sprint hurdling — resilient, technically sound and steadily rising on the global stage.