Ace Indian hurdler and Telugu star Jyothi Yarraji made a spectacular return to the track on Wednesday by qualifying for the 2026 Asian Games in her very first competitive race following a long injury layoff. Competing in the women’s 100m hurdles heats at the 65th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championship, Jyothi clocked an impressive 13.14 seconds to comfortably cross the qualification threshold and secure her spot for the upcoming Games. The 26-year-old athlete from Visakhapatnam had been sidelined from active competition for over a year due to a severe knee injury, making her immediate success a testament to her elite resilience.
Before this triumphant return, Jyothi underwent an extensive rehabilitation program at the Reliance Foundation Sports complex to recover her peak physical form. The national record holder in the 100m hurdles previously won a celebrated silver medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games amidst a high-profile photo-finish controversy. Looking ahead in the ongoing domestic championship, Jyothi has set her sights on achieving double qualification by securing an Asian Games berth in the 200m sprint category as well.
Adding to India’s track-and-field celebrations, fellow hurdler Nandini K. also successfully qualified for the Asian Games in the exact same event by hitting a timing of 13.24 seconds. The prestigious National Inter-State Meet is currently playing host to several of the country’s top-tier sporting icons, including prominent long jumpers Murali Sreeshankar and Jeswin Aldrin. Meanwhile, across other major regional sports updates, global star Ram Charan electrified sports fans by officially unveiling the champion’s trophy at the Andhra Premier League (APL) inauguration event in Mangalagiri.
