Amidst torrential rain, thunder, and a two-hour delay, India’s Jyothi Yarraji defied all odds to win gold in the 100m hurdles at the Asian Athletics Championships 2025, clocking an impressive 12.96 seconds and successfully defending her title.
The 24-year-old athlete battled not only the elements but also a recent hamstring injury and a disrupted warm-up routine caused by a sudden thunderstorm that drenched the Gumi stadium. Despite the chaos, Yarraji kept her composure, visualized every hurdle, and delivered a champion’s performance.
Mental Toughness Amid Mayhem
Just as Yarraji began warming up, a massive thunderstorm hit, plunging temperatures and forcing event organizers to delay the race by over two hours. “She got the win, and that’s what it was all about,” said James Hillier, Athletic Director at Reliance Foundation and Yarraji’s coach. “She had to warm up in what was basically a storage room. But when the race finally started past 10 PM, I knew she was ready.”
Yarraji explained how she maintained focus:
“I started visualising everything—how I’m crossing each and every hurdle. I did that more than ten times. It helped me concentrate and stay focused.”
Overcoming Injury and Pressure
Coming into the championship, Yarraji had been nursing a hamstring strain that limited her from hurdling and sprinting for nearly three weeks. “We focused on what she could do—training in the pool, on the bike, in the gym,” Hillier noted. “I told her, ‘Trust your numbers. You’ve hit every PB this year. Go and deliver.’”
Despite knowing that a top competitor had a better time this season, Yarraji stayed mentally grounded.
“Yes, there was pressure. But I kept telling myself, ‘Just focus on the timing.’ When I crossed the tenth hurdle and saw no one beside me, I felt so happy—I even shouted after the race, something I never do,” she said with a smile.
Champion Spirit, Unbreakable Focus
This victory further cements Jyothi Yarraji’s place among Asia’s elite hurdlers. Her resilience, focus, and strategic preparation—both physical and mental—made her performance stand out in one of the most unpredictable race environments.
As India continues to push forward in athletics on the continental stage, Yarraji’s gold medal is not just a personal triumph, but an inspiring moment for Indian sports.
