India’s Deepthi Jeevanji clinched a bronze medal in the women’s 400m T20 category final at the Paris Paralympics on Tuesday. Although she fell short of her world-record timing, Deepthi’s performance was notable. She clocked 55.82 seconds, finishing behind Yuliia Shuliar of Ukraine, who achieved 55.16 seconds, and Turkey’s Aysel Onder, who recorded 55.23 seconds. Shuliar had previously earned a silver medal at the Tokyo Paralympics three years ago.
Deepthi, who is set to turn 21 later this month, entered the Paris Paralympics as a gold medal favorite following her world record-setting performance at the World Para-Athletics Championships in Japan earlier this year, where she clocked 55.07 seconds. However, Onder broke Deepthi’s world record during the heats with a time of 54.96 seconds.
The T20 category is designated for athletes with intellectual impairments. Deepthi, hailing from Kalleda village in Warangal district, Telangana, is the second Indian to win a medal in a Paralympic track event, following Preethi Pal.
Preethi Pal made history on Sunday by becoming the first Indian woman track and field athlete to secure two Paralympic medals. She earned bronze in the 200m T35 category with a personal best of 30.01 seconds, adding to the bronze she won in the 100m T35 category earlier in the week.
Deepthi’s bronze medal, achieved in her Paralympic debut, marks India’s sixth medal in para-athletics. Despite facing social stigma and challenges growing up, Deepthi’s perseverance and talent have brought her to the international stage. Discovered by Athletics Federation of India coach N. Ramesh at age 15, Deepthi previously set an Asian record of 56.69 seconds in the 400m T20 at the Hangzhou Asian Games last year.
