Earlier this month, the Chief Minister had promised to ensure Deepthi would receive not only the Rs 1 crore reward but also a Group-2 government job and 500 square yards of land in Warangal. At Tuesday’s event, Deepthi and her coach expressed their satisfaction at the swift fulfilment of this promise.
Deepthi’s achievement at the Paris Paralympics made headlines. Competing in the Women’s 400m T20 event, she finished third with a time of 55.82 seconds, behind Ukraine's Yuliia Shuliar, who won gold, and Turkey's Aysel Onder, who took silver. Despite falling behind in the final stretch, Deepthi’s performance was a proud moment for India, adding a bronze medal to the country’s tally.
Her journey to the final was impressive as well. In the qualification round, she topped her heat in the Women’s 400m T20 Round 1 with a time of 55.45 seconds, setting her up as a strong contender. Ukraine's Yuliia Shuliar clocked her season-best in the same round, while Brazil's Antonia Keyla Da Silva Barros also performed exceptionally to qualify for the final.
Deepthi’s rise in para-athletics has been rapid. She was first discovered by Sports Authority of India (SAI) coach N Ramesh in Hyderabad back in 2019. Since then, she has quickly established herself as one of India’s top athletes, joining the Khelo India programme in 2018 and becoming a part of the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS). Her success includes a gold medal at the Asian Para Games and another at the 2024 World Championship, where she broke the world record.
At just 21, Deepthi has already made a significant impact in both the national and international sports scene. From winning medals at the Khelo India Youth Games to her recent bronze at the Paralympics, she has consistently demonstrated her talent and determination.
(With ANI inputs)