Back with a bang: Jyothi Yarraji unfazed by Paris Olympics setback, says will achieve another personal best in 100m hurdles soon
A little over a month ago, Paris Olympics hopeful Jyothi Yarraji was doing what she knows best: Equalling her own national record in 100m hurdles. This time, it was an international stage, the Motonet GP Jyvaskyla Athletics being held in Finland.
The charismatic runner recalls suffering a minor hip flexor injury after hitting the final hurdle in the race in Finland. A near stumble notwithstanding, she still managed to match her personal best of 12.78 seconds — which is just 0.01 seconds short of the Paris Olympics qualification cutoff.
Weeks of recovery followed and she was back at it. In Panchkula for the 63rd inter-state national athletics meet, she was staring at her final chance to punch a ticket to Paris.
The Telangana athlete walked away with the gold, but heavy and humid conditions meant that she could only manage a 13.05 seconds in the final. Her shot at direct qualification for Paris is gone, but the youngster remains unfazed.
She is still en route to Paris Olympics (based on rankings) and will become the first 100m hurdler from the country to do so.
"If I was able to run 13.00 in these heavy conditions, I know I can do much better,” Jyothi Yarraji said to Sportskeeda after her run. “Timings like 13.03, 13.06 seconds are not bad, but I’ll be back fully in two to three weeks.”
So what inspires that confidence despite the latest setback? A lot, apparently.
Strong and fast Jyothi Yarraji ready to take on the world
There’s a sense of belief and confidence in every word that Jyothi Yarraji speaks. She has already set her eyes on setting a new personal best in the coming days and the mental fortitude has been long in the making.
“There’s no special mental coaching. It’s all about the surroundings, people around me. If they’re talking about positives, I take and move forward, if there’s only negative criticism, I will just not pay attention and move on,” Jyothi Yarraji told Sportskeeda after her final.
Filtering out negative criticism has been key to her growth. Yarraji believes that her day will come, sooner than later. She thanks coach James Hillier, the Athletics Federation of India, Reliance Foundation and TOPS (Target Olympic Podium Scheme) for continuing to believe in her.
Above all, she has immense gratitude for God, who she thanks without fail for keeping her healthy.
“I will achieve my personal best in the next few competitions, it’s all about the right day. I know I am good enough and by the grace of God, I’m healthy and I am doing well,” the hurdler said.
“Today, if I’m running 13.00 seconds, it’s because of my coach James. He doesn’t just provide training, but also helps me with my mindset, tells me to take things one at a time and is my pillar of strength,” she added.
The athlete will soon be indulging in conversation with her coach, the Federation, and others on deciding the next course of action.
“I am fast, I am strong and I’ll do my best,” she says with that infectious sense of the self-belief mentioned earlier.
Given ever-inspiring figures that she has been posting on the shot clock, one does start to believe that she will be stronger, and faster with each passing day.