In a historic display of dominance, Indian track sensation Jyothi Yarraji has once again solidified her status as the queen of Asian hurdling. Yarraji successfully defended her title at the Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi, South Korea, overcoming treacherous weather and a slow start to clinch the gold medal.
The Golden Run in Gumi
Despite a heavy downpour that left the stadium nearly empty and the track soaked, Yarraji delivered a masterclass in resilience. While her rivals, Japan’s Yumi Tanaka and China’s Wu Yanni, gained an early lead out of the blocks, Yarraji’s trademark “closing speed” allowed her to overtake the field after the eighth hurdle.
- Winning Time: 12.96 seconds
- Significance: A new Championship Record and her first sub-13 second run of the 2025 season.
- The Podium: 1. Jyothi Yarraji (IND) – 12.96s (Gold) 2. Yumi Tanaka (JPN) – 13.04s (Silver) 3. Wu Yanni (CHN) – 13.12s (Bronze)
A Record-Breaking Season
The 25-year-old athlete from Andhra Pradesh has had a prolific year, marking a triumphant comeback after switching back to her original eight-stride technique (reverting from the seven-stride approach she briefly experimented with before the 2024 Olympics).
2025 Key Victories:
| Event | Location | Achievement |
|---|---|---|
| National Games | Dehradun | Gold (13.10s) – Meet Record |
| Indian Grand Prix 1 | Bengaluru | Gold (13.07s) |
| Taiwan Athletics Open | Taipei | Gold (12.99s) |
| Asian Championships | Gumi | Gold (12.96s) – Championship Record |
Overcoming Adversity
Yarraji’s journey remains one of the most inspiring stories in Indian sports. Coming from a humble background—her father was a private security guard and her mother a hospital cleaner—she has shattered the long-standing Indian national record multiple times. Her current National Record stands at 12.78 seconds, set in 2023.
While she missed out on the 2025 World Championships later in the year due to a knee injury (ACL surgery) in July, her performance in Gumi stands as the pinnacle of her season and a testament to her mental fortitude.
“The gold medal means a lot. I expected to be below 13 seconds… it was a tough race in these conditions, but I am happy with the execution.” — Jyothi Yarraji
