Athletics: Jyothi makes successful return from injury, books Asian Games ticket
Bhubaneswar, June 24
India's hurdle queen Jyothi Yarraji wasted no time in making a mark on her return after a lengthy injury layoff as she achieved the qualifying standard for the upcoming Asian Games 2026 with a controlled run in the opening heats of the women's 100m hurdles at the 65th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships 2026 on Wednesday.
The 26-year-old, who hails from Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, clocked a competitive 3.14 seconds in her first race of the season on the opening day of the Inter-State Nationals.
Jyothi, who has shown immense resilience over the past year, has committed herself to rehabilitation and recovery at Reliance Foundation Sports. She won a silver medal in the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023 after being initially disqualified for a false start along with a Chinese athlete, but was later allowed to participate after a review.
The 26-year-old Jyothi, the national record holder in this event, was competing in her first tournament in 2026 after returning from a serious ACL injury that saw her out of action for over a year. Jyothi would be setting her sights on qualifying for the Asian Games again in the 100m hurdles and 200m events.
Nandhini K. clocked a brilliant 13.24s in the Women's 100m Hurdles to achieve the qualification standard for the Asian Games 2026.
The competition is seeing a host of Commonwealth Games-bound athletes in action, including the likes of Animesh Kujur, Tejas Shirse, Yashas Palaksha, and Murali Sreeshankar. Also making a return to action will be long jump national record holder Jeswin Aldrin, who will jostle with Sreeshankar for a top-of-the-podium finish.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Great to see her determination paying off. The Asian Games 2026 is going to be exciting. But I hope the Athletics Federation keeps a close eye on her recovery schedule—rushing back too fast could lead to another injury.
So proud of our athletes! Jyothi's journey from Visakhapatnam to the Asian Games silver in Hangzhou was already a fairy tale. Now this comeback proves she's not just a one-hit wonder. Also, Nandhini K's 13.24s is brilliant—we have a strong women's hurdles team. 💪
She's a true fighter, no doubt. But I'm a bit concerned about the 3.14 seconds time—that's not her peak yet. The Asian Games will have tougher competition from China and Japan. She needs to improve if she wants gold this time.
Kya baat hai! 🎉 I still remember the controversy in Hangzhou when she was disqualified initially. Justice was served then, and now she's back to prove herself again. Our sports infrastructure is finally paying off. Reliance Foundation deserves credit for their rehab program.
Happy to see her back! But let's not get carried away. This is just the qualifying round—the final will be tougher. Also, the article mentions Jeswin Aldrin and Sreeshankar competing. That long jump battle will be epic too.
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