Latest news with #Yarraji
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Faster, fitter Jyothi conquers conditions to court Asian glory
New Delhi: Jyothi Yarraji is not known for explosive starts. The 25-year-old typically begins steady and surges in the latter half of the race. It's not the most conventional rhythm, but it has served India's top hurdler well. Sticking to her familiar strategy at the Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi, South Korea, on Thursday, Yarraji clinched gold in the 100m hurdles with a time of 12.96s, breaking the Championship record held by China's Yun Feng (12.97s) since 1998. Japan's Yumi Tanaka and China's Wu Yanni, both clocking 13.07s, followed. Yarraji was the only athlete to dip below 13 seconds in the cold and wet conditions. Starting in Lane 7, she was slow off the blocks and remained in the bottom two until the fifth hurdle. Then, her trademark acceleration kicked in. She breezed past her competitors, surged into the lead at the eighth hurdle, and crossed the finish line in top gear. Her roar of celebration soon followed. 'I don't usually shout in happiness. I've shouted in sadness before, but this celebration was a first,' she said. Her vocal celebration reflected the significance of the moment for Yarraji, who is coming off a hamstring strain that disrupted her training last month. She had entered the National Federation Senior Athletics Competition in Kochi—a mandatory qualifier for Asian Championships—far from peak fitness, yet won with a time of 13.23s. The Athletics Federation of India's qualifying mark was 13.26s. Once qualification was secured, Yarraji under the Reliance Foundation's Athletics Director James Hillier, began training for her title defence at the Asian Championships. While track time was limited due to her injury, she focused on strength work in the gym, becoming stronger and leaner. But her race readiness remained uncertain. 'She's faster, fitter, and leaner than before. Her body fat percentage is at its lowest ever. She's hit some PBs in the gym, but I wouldn't say she's completely race-fit. This competition came about three weeks too early for us,' said Hillier. Besides her recent lack of sub-13s runs—she hadn't clocked one since May 2024—Yarraji also had to contend with the conditions in Gumi. A torrential downpour delayed the final by nearly two hours, forcing her to warm up in a makeshift storage room beside the track. 'We had a horrendous downpour. Just as Jyothi was about to warm up, the heavens opened. A huge thunderstorm hit, temperatures dropped, and the competition was postponed for two hours. She ended up doing warm-ups in a storage room. It was absolutely crazy,' Hillier recalled. Standing in a cramped 10-meter area with barely enough room to walk, Yarraji began visualising the race. While some competitors grew frustrated, she stayed calm and focused, drawing on her experience. 'I used the delay to visualise—how I'd start off the blocks, how I'd go over the hurdles, everything. I knew if I stayed with the girls after the first few hurdles, I'd have a strong chance of winning. I focused deeply, and didn't let my mind wander,' she said. Though she didn't have the World Championships qualifying mark of 12.73s in mind, she felt capable of running 12.70s, which would have been a personal best (PB) and a direct ticket to September's Worlds in Tokyo. Her current PB stands at 12.78s. 'Had it not been for the conditions, I would have run 12.70s. That's how good I felt,' she said. Hillier, however, insisted that they weren't chasing time. 'I just wanted her to run the race. It was freezing, there was a headwind, and the track was a bit slow. The focus was on winning, not on chasing time.' Yarraji is also set to compete in the 200m at this meet. Afterward, she and Hillier will head to Taipei for the Taiwan Athletics Open, a World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze event. Once back in India, they'll concentrate on technical training, particularly to improve her early race acceleration.
News18
5 days ago
- Sport
- News18
'I Shouted With Happiness For The First Time': Jyothi Yarraji On Emotional Asian Athletics Gold Win
Last Updated: Amid delays, and injury setbacks, Jyothi Yarraji defended her 100m hurdles title at the Asian Championships. On a chaotic, rain-drenched night in Gumi, South Korea, India's Jyothi Yarraji held her nerve to win gold in the 100m hurdles at the Asian Athletics Championships, clocking 12.96 seconds to successfully defend her title. Despite a disrupted warm-up, a thunderstorm, and the lingering effects of a hamstring injury, the 24-year-old hurdler came out on top in a tightly contested race. 'She got the win, and that's what it was all about," said James Hillier, Athletic Director at the Reliance Foundation and Yarraji's coach. 'This was a crazy competition. Just as Jyothi began her warm-up, the heavens opened—there was a huge thunderstorm, the temperature plummeted, and the whole event got pushed back by two hours." With her usual pre-race routine thrown into disarray, Yarraji adapted the only way she could—mentally. 'I had a good warm-up, but then I had to rest for two hours. It rained a lot, and I couldn't warm up properly, so I started visualising everything—how I'm crossing each and every hurdle," she explained. 'I did that more than ten times. It helped me concentrate on my lane and stay focused." Hillier revealed that she had to warm up in 'what was basically a storage room at the side of the track,' but applauded how she adapted. 'By the time the race went off at twenty past ten, it was freezing cold. She maybe didn't get out as well as I'd have liked, but once she got into her running, I knew she would win. I told her, 'Be close to the girls by hurdle eight—if you're there, you'll win.' And she was already in the lead by then." Yarraji had faced her share of challenges leading up to the championship. She suffered a hamstring injury that limited her hurdling and sprinting for three weeks, but Hillier ensured she never stopped training. 'Injuries happen—it's part of this business. We didn't focus on what she couldn't do, but what she could. She trained in the gym, in the pool, on the bike. I set goals to keep her competitive. And I told her, 'Trust your numbers. You've hit every PB this year. Just go deliver it now.' And she did," Hiller told Yarraji herself admitted there was tension going into the race. 'Another girl was doing really well this season, and I hadn't done 12.89 yet. So yes, there was some stress. But I kept telling myself, 'Just focus on the timing.' When I crossed the tenth hurdle and saw no one around me, I felt so happy. I shouted after the race—something I've never done before out of happiness," she added. First Published: May 30, 2025, 11:49 IST
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Gold rush: Sable, Yarraji, women's relay team win gold at Asian meet
New Delhi: Steeplechaser Avinash Sable and hurdler Jyothi Yarraji produced stellar performances to win gold medals at the Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi, South Korea, on Thursday. Later, the women's 4x400m relay team dashed to a third gold as India wrapped up a fantastic day. With the men's relay team (4x400m) bagging silver and Ancy Sojan and Shaili Singh winning silver and bronze medals respectively in long jump, India took their medals count to 14 with two days of competition remaining. The evening session was delayed due to a thunderstorm but once it started, Indian athletes came up with one strong showing after the other. The first to go was Sable. The two-time Olympian and Asian Games gold medallist dominated the field, clocking 8:20.92s and finished much ahead of Japanese Yutaro Niinae (8:24.41s) and Qatar's Zakaria Elahlaami (8:27.12). Having started with the Diamond League last April, this was Sable' season's best. While the medal would come as a boost ahead of the world championships in Tokyo in September, he would be equally satisfied with his tactical execution. The Armyman, whose national record stands at 8:09.91sec, made a strong start and led till about the halfway mark before tucking behind Niinae and allowing the Japanese to lead the field. On the last lap, Sable surged ahead reclaiming the lead and, after the last water jump, he had enough in his tank to keep adding distance between him and Niinae who simply faded away. It was Sable's second medal at the continental meet, having won silver in 2019 in Doha. The last time India won a gold in this event was in 1989 through Dina Ram. Equally stunning was Yarraji's gold in 100m hurdles with a new championships record of 12.96sec. Yarraji was slow off the blocks but made up with a powerful late burst, leaving behind Yumi Tanaka (13.07sec) and Wu Yanni (13.07s) in her wake. The previous championship record was held by China's Yun Feng (12.97s) in 1998. It was Yarraji's second straight gold medal at the Asian meet. This one comes at a time when she has struggled with injury and going sub 13sec this season. 'It has been difficult this season with injuries but I am happy to break the 13 second barrier here in a quality field,' said the Asian Games silver medallist. Before the Federation Cup Yarraji had a hamstring injury in training and went through a tough period of recovery. At the Federation Cup she clocked 13.10sec and has worked hard this month to regain full fitness. Yarraji has also changed her stride pattern to add speed. 'I used to take seven strides between hurdles before the Paris Olympics but I was getting injured. With long legs, the eight strides approach is more suited to me. It used to be my original technique and it has added to my speed,' she said before leaving for Korea. The women's relay quartet of Jisna Mathew, Rupal Chaudhary, Kunja Rajitha and Subha Venkatesan then clinched gold in 4x400m relay event. They clocked 3:34.18sec finishing ahead of silver-medallist Vietnam (3:34.77sec) and bronze medallist Sri Lanka (3:36.67sec). Rupal, running the second leg, gave India the lead. Rajita kept India on course despite strong challenges coming from Vietnam and Sri Lanka. Taking the baton from Rajitha, Subha then ran a powerful anchor leg to give India the gold. The men's 4x400m relay team of Jay Kumar, Dharmveer Choudhary, Manu Thekkinalil Saji and Vishal TK took silver (3:03.67sec) behind Qatar (3:03.52sec). Vishal's spirited anchor run helped him outsprint China (3:03.73sec). In long jump, Sojan claimed silver with a leap of 6.33m and Singh took the bronze (6.30m). Iran's Reihaneh Mobini Arani won gold with a jump of 6.40m.
New Indian Express
5 days ago
- Sport
- New Indian Express
Gold rush for India on a rainy Day 3 of Asian meet
CHENNAI: CLINCHING gold seemed to be the goal for Indian athletes at the Asian Athletics Championship and the delay in proceedings due to heavy rain in Gumi didn't deter them either. Day Three of the Asian meet will remain as a good memory for hurdler Jyoti Yarraji, steeplechaser Avinash Sable and the women's 4x400m relay team after they won gold in their events on Thursday. With five gold, six silver and three bronze medals, India are back on the top-two of the overall medal table. Coming in as the defending champion, women hurdler and national record holder Jyoti Yarraji did not want to lose her coveted spot. Her eight-stepped run to the first hurdle seemed slow. But she progressively gained pace amidst the close battle between China's Wu Yanni and Japan's Yumi Tanaka. Yarraji plunged towards the finish line leaving her competitors behind just after the final hurdle. The 25-year old couldn't have expected more. This run of 12.96s, a championship record, has boosted her confidence leading up to the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo later this year. Yarraji felt that she could match her personal best of 12.78s on Thursday. However, the cold conditions late at night in Gumi made it difficult. "I had a good start, I focused on getting my timing below 13s, and I am elated to defend my gold medal," she told this daily from Gumi. Her gains after every hurdle was key in her burst in pace after the final hurdle. "The frequency after the first hurdle helped me build pace," she added. The level of competition in this edition, Jyoti felt has improved from the previous edition where she won gold with a timing of 13.09s. "The run happened as per my visualisation and I'm thankful it had come out perfectly," Jyoti signed off.
News18
5 days ago
- Sport
- News18
Focusing on timing rather than medal was key, says Jyoti
Last Updated: Gumi (South Korea), May 29 (PTI) A fitter and faster Jyothi Yarraji admitted she was under stress to defend her 100m hurdles title, but focusing on timing rather than the medal helped her stay calm while clinching her second successive gold at the Asian Athletics Championships on Thursday. The 25-year-old from Andhra Pradesh, an Asian Games silver medallist, clocked 12.96 seconds — a new championship record — to top the podium. The previous record of 13.04 seconds was jointly held by Kazakhstan's Olga Shishigina (1998) and China's Sun Yawei (2011). Yarraji thus joined an elite list of five athletes who have defended the women's 100m hurdles title at the Asian Championships, including Emi Akimoto of Japan (1979, 1981, 1983), Zhang Yu of China (1991, 1993), Su Yinping of China (2003, 2005) and Sun Yawei (2009, 2011). '100 percent I wanted gold. But I focussed on timing because when you focus on medal too much, then you feel pressurised. So I shifted it on the positive side, thinking about the timing, and it worked actually," she told reporters from Gumi. Yarraji had won gold in the 2023 edition with a time of 13.09 seconds. Her personal best and national record stands at 12.78. 'To be frank, another girl is also doing well here. But I haven't clocked 12.89 in this season. So, there is a little bit of stress whether I will be able to do well in the race or not," she said. 'I am in good shape. But it is very important to finish the race on this day. So, there was a little bit of stress. But after the 10th hurdle, when I was about to finish the line, I felt that there is no one around. 'I had never shouted so much in all these years after the race. I mean, with happiness. I shouted 2-3 times with sadness. But this time, with happiness, I celebrated nicely. The final, originally scheduled for 6:25 PM local time, was delayed due to rain and eventually held at 10:25 PM. With conditions far from ideal, Yarraji had to warm up in a cramped storage room near the track. 'Actually, our race was scheduled for 6.25 pm. But it rained a lot yesterday. So, they changed the event schedule to 8.25 pm. So, there was a delay of 2 hours. 'I started the warm-up a little early because I wanted a longer warm-up. So, it rained a lot in the duration. So, it rained continuously for 1-1.5 hours. 'And after some time, the officials came and said that it was going to be 10.25 pm. So, there was a delay of 2 hours. So, I started thinking about how positive I could be. 'So, I think the warm-up was done. So, I started warming up for the final. I was thinking about what I could do. Actually, this is a 10-metre area. But all the athletes are there. so even walking was difficult. But I tried to do as much as I could. And being brave at this time would be a good benefit. And just keep moving.. In April, Yarraji suffered a hamstring injury during training after overreaching on a hurdle. She missed three weeks of training ahead of the Federation Cup, leaving her with little time to prepare for qualification to the Asian Championships. 'The results, I was expecting a timing of 12.70 seconds. I'm in good shape to go for a personal best. I did a really good job. but unfortunately due to injuries and a little bit of ups and downs here in the Asian Championship… I mean I don't have any problems. Everything is good. I'm fit and fast," she said. 'But I rested for two hours while doing it. It rained a lot, so it wasn't a good warm-up. But I started visualizing in my brain. Since it wasn't physically possible, I started working mentally. 'I visualized what I could do, how I was sitting in the block, how I was crossing each and every hurdle. I started visualizing everything more than 10 times. I think it really worked and I am very happy." PTI ATK KHS First Published:
