The Paris Paralympics 2024 has once again proven that with determination and willpower, anything is achievable. Among the inspiring athletes who have overcome immense challenges to reach the pinnacle of success is India’s Deepthi Jeevanji. On Tuesday, Deepthi Jeevanji secured India’s 16th medal at the ongoing Paralympics by winning bronze in the women’s 400m T20 final, completing the race in 55.82 seconds.
#Deepthi scripts her story!
A terrific achievement for #Warangal daughter #DeepthiJeevanji for making history as the 1st Indian para athlete to win a medal in the women’s 400m T20 event.♀️
Timing:55.82 sec. You’ve made the nation proud! #Paralympic2024 #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/mMnnNKFIrn
— Hi Warangal (@HiWarangal) September 3, 2024
Deepthi’s journey to glory has been anything but easy. Born in the village of Kalleda in Warangal district, Andhra Pradesh, she faced significant challenges from an early age. Deepthi Jeevanji was born with an intellectual disability, a cognitive condition that affects communication and adaptive skills. Her parents, Jeevanji Yadhagiri and Jeevanji Dhanalaxmi, recall how their daughter was often taunted and ridiculed by those around them.
“She was born during the solar eclipse, and her head was very small at birth, along with the lips and nose being a bit unusual. Every villager who saw her and some of our relatives would call Deepthi pichi (mental) and kothi (monkey) and tell us to send her to an orphanage. Today, seeing her become the world champion in a far-off country proves that she is indeed a special girl,” her mother, Dhanalaxmi, told The Indian Express.
Despite these hardships, Deepthi’s parents provided her with unwavering support. They faced financial struggles, especially after selling their farm following the death of Yadhagiri’s father.
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Yadhagiri, who earned a modest daily wage, and Dhanalaxmi, who also had to work to support the family, ensured that Deepthi and her younger sister Amulya were cared for. Deepthi Jeevanji, a calm child who spoke very little, often found solace in the comfort of her mother’s cooking, particularly sweet rice or chicken, after being teased by village children.
Deepthi’s bronze medal in Paris is not her first taste of success. She previously made headlines by winning India’s first gold medal at the World Athletics Para Championship in Kobe, Japan. Her achievements are a testament to her resilience and determination, as well as the unwavering support of her family.
For her father, Yadhagiri, Deepthi’s victory is a moment of immense pride, though he could not afford to miss work on the day of her win. “Even though it’s a big day for all of us, I could not afford to miss work. That’s my bread and butter, and the whole day I was thinking about Deepthi winning a medal in Paris and would tell the driver Elfer about calling other friends and their families to celebrate Deepthi’s medal. She has always given us joy, and this medal will also mean a lot to our family.”
Deepthi Jeevanji’s story is one of triumph over adversity, and her success at the Paris Paralympics 2024 serves as an inspiration to many, proving that with determination, anything is possible.
