Jyothi Yarraji is no longer a name known only to athletics purists. In just a few years, the Visakhapatnam-born hurdler has emerged as one of India’s most consistent track athletes, redefining what Indian women can achieve in sprint hurdling. Still in her mid-20s, Yarraji currently holds the national record in the women’s 100m hurdles and has become a regular podium finisher at major Asian and global meets.
Born on August 28, 1999, in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, Jyothi Yarraji’s journey began far away from floodlit stadiums and international podiums. Raised in a modest household, her father worked as a private security guard while her mother took up part-time cleaning jobs at a city hospital. Financial constraints were a constant reality, but they also became a driving force behind Jyothi’s ambition to succeed.
Her athletic potential was first spotted during her school days at Port High School Krishna in Vizag, where a physical education teacher noticed her height and natural agility, traits ideal for hurdling.
Jyothi announced herself on the state circuit in 2015 by winning gold at an Andhra Pradesh inter-district meet. A year later, she moved to the SAI Centre in Hyderabad to train under Olympian and Dronacharya awardee N Ramesh. While early success at the national level came gradually, consistency became her hallmark.
In 2019, her career took a decisive turn when she joined the Odisha Reliance Athletics High Performance Centre in Bhubaneswar and began working with British coach James Hillier. Under his guidance, Jyothi’s technique and race temperament improved significantly.
Jyothi’s early career was marked by heartbreak as much as promise. She clocked multiple record-breaking times that failed to enter the record books due to technicalities such as wind assistance or procedural lapses. Yet, perseverance paid off.
Her official national record finally began in May 2022 at the Cyprus International Meet in Limassol, where she clocked 13.23s, breaking a two-decade-old mark. What followed was a rapid rise, multiple sub-13-second runs, international podium finishes, and growing recognition as Asia’s elite hurdlers.
The breakthrough moment arrived at the Asian Athletics Championships 2023, where Jyothi clinched gold in the women’s 100m hurdles. She followed it up with a bronze at the FISU World University Games 2023 and a silver at the Asian Games 2023.
Her upward curve continued into 2024 and 2025, culminating in a successful title defence at the Asian Athletics Championships 2025, where she set a new championship record.
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Though her Olympic debut at the Paris Olympics 2024 ended in the repechage round, Jyothi’s consistency earned her the prestigious Arjuna Award in 2024. The honour recognised not just her medals, but her resilience through injuries, missed records, and fierce competition.
As Indian athletics looks to the future, Jyothi Yarraji stands tall, not just as India’s fastest women’s hurdler, but as a symbol of persistence, progress, and quiet excellence on the global track.
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