Deepthi, a 20-year-old athlete from Andhra Pradesh, has achieved an extraordinary milestone despite being born with an intellectual disability. In the women’s T20 400m final held in Kobe, she set a new world record with a timing of 55.07 seconds. This remarkable performance also secured her qualification for the Paris Paralympics on Monday.
Deepthi broke the previous world record of 55.12 seconds, which was held by Breanna Clark from the USA. Aysel Onder from Turkey secured the silver medal with a time of 55.19 seconds, while Lizanshela Angulo from Ecuador earned the bronze, finishing in 56.68 seconds.
In 2010, Deepthi’s talent as a runner caught the attention of PT coach Biyani Venkateshwaralu at the RDF School in her village. Despite her physical challenges, she consistently outperformed her able-bodied peers in running, prompting Coach Venkateshwaralu to recognize her potential. As a result, he enrolled her in training programs focused on the 100m and 200m sprints, nurturing her natural ability and setting her on a path to develop her skills further.