SAI athletics coach Ramesh savours double delight as trainees Yarraji, Deepthi honoured with Arjuna Award

For N. Ramesh, athletics coach of Sports Authority of India (Hyderabad), it was double delight when two of his trainees – 100m hurdler Jyothi Yarraji and para athlete J. Deepthi – were named for the prestigious Arjuna Awards on Thursday.

“It has been a truly inspirational journey for both these athletes,” he said. “Jyothi, who is from Vizag and born to a father who is a watchman and mother a domestic help, is now a world-class hurdler,” recalls Ramesh in a chat with Sportstar.

“I remember, she really struggled to get tuned to the event. There were often blood stains on her body because of the rigorous training schedule,” he said.

“But hats off to her indefatigable spirit, she kept pursuing her passion between 2014, when she joined us, till 2019, never complained. Once she won the National under-18 women’s hurdles gold, she never really looked back and she became the first woman to qualify from India for the100m hurdles in 2024 Paris Olympics,” Ramesh said.

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“Coming from a very poor background, she needed financial help which was provided by the Gopichand-Mytrah Foundation. And, the 2022 Asian Games silver in 100m hurdles, was one of the defining moments of her career,” the proud coach said.

“Definitely, Jyothi moving over to Odisha Reliance Foundation under the tutelage of James Hillier helped her cause further. Even Hillier said strong basics are the biggest strength,” Ramesh said.

And, Deepthi’s story is no different given the way she was mocked by the villagers in Khammam for her physical appearance, Ramesh said.

“It was a classic case of defying all odds to scale the summit of excellence in the world of sports. Winning gold in 2023 Para Asiad, gold in 2024 Para World Athletics, a bronze in 2024 Paralympics women’s 400 m (T-20 category) were by no means ordinary achievements,” the coach said.

“These two athletes are truly inspirational stories given the way they warded off so many challenges – on and off the track,” Ramesh said.

“I have fulfilled the dream of my parents with this Award. They faced such hardship in encouraging. It is obviously a great feeling This Award means a lot to me when I dream to achieve more, starting with Grand Prix,” Deepthi informed ‘Sportstar’. “Sincerely thank my parents, Ramesh sir and Gopi sir for all the support,” she added.