New Delhi: India’s campaign at the World Para Athletics Championships kicked off on a high note for sprinter Deepthi Jeevanji. The 22-year-old from Telangana qualified for the final of the women’s 400m T20 event with a season-best performance on Friday. Jeevanji clocked 58.35 seconds to top the second heat in the opening round, earning her place in the medal round.
Jeevanji’s timing was enough to secure one of the automatic spots as the top three athletes from each heat, along with the next two fastest, advanced to the final. In Heat 2, alongside her Diana Vivenes of the Dominican Republic (59.41s) and Australia’s Telaya Blacksmith (1:00.10) also made the cut. Additional qualifiers on time included Ecuador’s Mayerli Minda (58.98s) and Portugal’s Carina Paim (59.61s).
Heat 1 featured the current world record holder, Aysel Onder of Turkey, who had set the mark of 54.96 seconds at the Paris Paralympics last year. She finished second in the heat with a timing of 57.88 seconds, just behind Venezuela’s Leonela Coromoto Vera Colina, who clocked 57.10 seconds, marking her season’s best. Ukraine’s Yuliia Shuliar (58.01s) also progressed to the final.
Jeevanji’s performance highlighted her growing stature in international para athletics. Her season-best timing shows she is peaking at the right moment and will be a serious contender in the final on home soil.
When is her next sprint?
The women’s 400m T20 final is scheduled for 7:23 pm IST, which promises to be an exciting race as the top athletes from both heats go head-to-head for a medal.