'Confident' Jyothi Yarraji expects improved timing at Paris Olympics 2024

Jyothi Yarraji is the first Indian to qualify in 100m hurdles for the Olympics.

At 24, Jyothi Yarraji has emerged as one of India’s most promising track and field athletes. With her consistent national record-breaking performances, Yarraji has set her sights on the Paris Olympics, aiming to clock under 12.6 seconds and improve upon the current national record of 12.78 seconds. She has also made history as the first Indian to qualify for the 100m hurdles in the Olympics.

In a recent press conference affiliated with the Reliance Foundation, Yarraji and her coach James Hiller shared valuable insights into their Olympic preparations, aspirations, and the journey that has brought them to this pivotal moment in Indian athletics.

Olympic Preparation

Jyothi is currently training at the Polish Olympic Training Center, focusing on a specific plan for the Olympics. “We’re working on speed and fast hurdling,” Hiller explained. “We’re also doing strength work in the gym, reinforcing good posture and form.”

Yarraji expressed confidence in her preparation, stating, “After reaching Poland, the sessions have been going great. We’re quite confident now and expecting good timing in the Olympics.”

Also Read: Jyothi Yarraji pens heartfelt note after qualifying for Paris Olympics 2024

Mental preparation

While Yarraji may lack Olympic experience, she’s no stranger to high-stakes competitions. “I don’t have experience with the Olympics,” she admitted, “but I’m quite confident about it. I hope it will go well, and I believe I can manage because of my experiences from the Asian Championships, Asian Games, and World Championships.”

To manage the inevitable pressure of competing on the world’s biggest sporting stage, Yarraji is focusing on mental preparation alongside her physical training. “I’m concentrating more on recovery and meditation,” she revealed. “This helps me stay calmer and more focused. There will be some pressure, but I will try to concentrate on my race and replicate what I’ve done in training during the competition.”

Coaching strategy

James Hiller’s coaching approach is meticulously tailored to the unique demands of the 100m hurdles. He explained the intricacies of the event: “The 100m hurdles is different from flat races. You have a series of constant hurdles, with set heights and spacing. Every athlete takes the same number of steps, so we have to find a way to fit Jyothi’s body and frame into the spacings between the hurdles.”

Hiller’s strategy involves creating an environment in training that replicates the rhythms and postures required for peak performance. “Let’s say her goal is to run 12.5 seconds,” he elaborated. “My job in training is to create an environment where she feels a 12.5 rhythm when she runs.

“We might make the hurdles a bit lower or increase the spacing to allow her to reach higher speeds. My belief is if she can feel that rhythm in training, she’ll have a better chance to replicate it in a race.”

This approach is designed to give Yarraji not just the physical capability but also the mental confidence to perform at her best. “I want to deliver her at the Olympics with a feeling and belief that she can run significantly faster,” Hiller stated.

Also Read: Which state does all Indian Participating contingent at Paris Olympics belong to

Overcoming injury

Yarraji’s journey to the Olympics hasn’t been without challenges. A recent injury in Finland threatened to derail her preparations, but both athlete and coach view this setback as a positive development in disguise.

“It was effectively five weeks from the injury to when she raced at Interstate,” Hiller recounted. “She did one session, effectively one run over hurdles and one practice session before the competition. She still ran 13.06, which is phenomenal.”

Rather than hindering her progress, the injury seems to have bolstered Yarraji’s confidence. Hiller believes she’s now more confident than she would have been without the injury. “She never stopped training,” he emphasized. “We just changed the focus. She was in the gym five hours a day, doing strength training, postural training, coordination training, and proprioception training.”

The result? “She’s now fitter, faster, and stronger than she would have been had she not got injured,” Hiller declared. “What she’s been doing in training here has been phenomenal.”

India’s track and field future

The conversation inevitably turned to India’s potential to match countries like the USA or Jamaica in producing elite track and field athletes. Hiller pointed to cultural differences and the need for exposure as key factors.

“One of the main reasons is culture,” he explained. “There’s a culture of track and field, particularly in Jamaica, where it’s effectively their national sport. In India, we’re up against cricket, hockey, and kabaddi.”

However, Hiller sees rapid progress on the horizon. “We’re obviously 20-odd years behind the US and Jamaica in our development, but I think we can close that gap quite quickly,” he opined. “A lot of support and money are coming in now. I think we’ll be having a different conversation in four years at the next Olympics, and an even different conversation in eight years.”

For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram