Home / Sports / Jyothi Yarraji Defends Asian Hurdles Gold with 12.96s Championship Record
Jyothi Yarraji Defends Asian Hurdles Gold with 12.96s Championship Record
23 Dec
Summary
- Jyothi Yarraji won Asian 100m hurdles gold with a 12.96s record.
- The race occurred in an empty, rain-soaked stadium.
- She returned to an eight-stride technique, avoiding injuries.
Jyothi Yarraji has retained her women's 100m hurdles gold at the 2025 Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi, Republic of Korea, with a new championship record of 12.96 seconds. The event on May 29, 2025, was marked by heavy rain, forcing spectators to leave and leaving Yarraji to race in silence. Her coach, James Hillier, lauded her performance, emphasizing her adherence to the race plan.
Yarraji's triumph signifies her first sub-13-second performance this season, achieved after reverting to an eight-stride technique to prevent injuries. This strategic change contrasts with her previous seven-stride attempt at the Olympics, which resulted in setbacks. The 27-year-old athlete's win propels her pursuit of qualification for the World Championships, aiming for sub-12.73 times.
Her journey from rural Visakhapatnam to becoming a continental champion highlights remarkable perseverance. This victory in Gumi follows her 2023 Bangkok win, also in an evacuated stadium. Yarraji's success serves as an inspiration, especially for rural girls in India, underscoring the nation's growing athletic ambitions.
