Latest news with #Rajitha
New Indian Express
4 days ago
- Sport
- New Indian Express
From tribal village to Asian gold: Sprinter Rajitha races toward Olympic dream
VIJAYAWADA: Kunja Rajitha (19), a young sprinter from the remote tribal village of Ramachandrapuram in Koonavaram mandal, Alluri Sitarama Raju (ASR) district, has made headlines by winning gold in the women's 4×400m relay at the 26th Asian Athletics Championships held in Gumi, South Korea. Her rise from poverty to the continental stage is a testament to perseverance and the transformative power of opportunity. Born into a family of migrant workers who relocated from Chhattisgarh to Andhra Pradesh four decades ago, Rajitha is the youngest of six siblings. She lost her father, Mariah, when she was just 3-year-old, and was raised by her mother, Bhadramma, under financial constraints. Her athletic talent came to light at Arrupe High School in Katukapalli, run by the Loyola Integrated Tribal Development Society (LITDS) in Chintoor mandal. It was here that Fr Yesu Ratnam noticed her potential when she was in Class VII. 'She has speed and focus. I saw a spark in her,' he recalled. Encouraged by him, Rajitha began competing in school-level events, winning her first 100m race in 2016. After school, she pursued Intermediate at CK Junior College, Mangalagiri, and later joined SAAP (Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh) in Nellore in 2018. Trained by coaches Vamsi Kiran and Krishna Mohan, she continued to excel despite challenges such as financial hardship and delay in obtaining caste certificate.
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
SRM-A.P.'s student part of women's team that won gold in 4×400 metres relay at international tourney
Kunja Rajitha, a first-year B. Com. student at Paari School of Business, SRM University-A.P., Amaravati, is part of the Women's 4×400 metres relay team that made history by clinching a gold on Day 3 of the 26th Asian Athletics Championship being held in South Korea on April 30, Thursday. The other three in her team included Jisna Mathew, Rupal Chaudhary and Subha Venkatesan. The quartet clocked the season-best time of 3:34.18s, edging past Vietnam and Sri Lanka in the finals, according to a report from the university. India won gold in the Women's 4x400m relay at the Asian Athletics Championships after 12 years. The university's Sports Director, Anup Singh Suryavanshi, congratulated Rajitha on her achievement and said it is a testament to her hard work and resilience. Her performance on such an international platform inspires all student-athletes nationwide, he added. SRM University Pro Vice-Chancellor Satish Kumar and Vice-Chancellor Manoj K Arora praised Rajitha and said her journey reminds one that students can rise to any challenge with the right support and determination. Her success adds to the growing legacy of the university as a hub for talent, they said. Rajitha hails from an inaccessible tribal village near Kunavaram in the Alluri Sitarama Raju district of Andhra Pradesh. Despite all odds, she continued her education while pursuing her dreams and became a national-level athlete, the release said. Rajitha bagged gold in the 400-metre sprint event at the Khelo India Youth Games-2022, held in Haryana. She also secured second place in a similar event in the 2019 edition of Khelo India held in Assam. In 2018, Rajitha joined Tenvic Sports Academy in Nellore. Later, she trained under coach Mike Russell at SAA Centre of Excellence in Guntur.
Time of India
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Sivakarthikeyan expresses love for his mother with a touching birthday post
Actor shared a touching picture with his mother, Rajitha , to celebrate her birthday, accompanied by heartfelt birthday wishes. He took to his social media to express his love and gratitude, sharing the lyrics of the emotional classical song " Amma Enrazhaikkatha Uyirillaiye ," which expresses the deep connection between a mother and child. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The verses reflect his admiration and respect for his mother, symbolising how indispensable she is in his life. A life shaped by his mother's strength Sivakarthikeyan has always held his mother in the highest regard. After the untimely death of his father, a police officer, when Sivakarthikeyan was only 17, his mother took full responsibility for their family. She even took a loan from his brother to ensure that Sivakarthikeyan could continue his studies, a sacrifice that proved invaluable in his journey toward success. Despite facing difficult circumstances, his mother remained a pillar of support. Family's struggles and sivakarthikeyan's growth During Sivakarthikeyan's early years in the entertainment industry, his family wasn't fully supportive of his decision to pursue acting, but Sivakarthikeyan has expressed that he never held any resentment toward his mother. In interviews, he revealed that even in those tough times, his bond with her only grew stronger, and he appreciated the sacrifices she made to ensure his future. A close-knit family today Now, at 70 years old, Sivakarthikeyan's mother lives with him, and they share a close-knit relationship. His sister, Gauri, recently spoke fondly about their mother's resilience, recalling how she managed their family's well-being after their father's passing. She also shared that Amma remains determined and unwavering, making sure to perform rituals and ceremonies with the same dedication and respect as their father would have wanted.
