Paris Paralympics 2024: Deepthi Jeevanji wins bronze in women's 400m T20 on debut

Deepthi Jeevanji is the current World and Asian Para Games Champion.

Reigning world champion Deepthi Jeevanji won the bronze medal in women’s 400m T20 event at the Paris Paralympics 2024. The 20-year-old, on her Paralympic debut, finished third with a timing of 55.82m to achieved a podium finish in Paris. Deepthi’s medal was India’s 16th at Paris and second in para-athletics, first time India have won two medals in the discipline at the Paralympics.

She also became the second Indian after Preethi Pal to win a track medal at the Paralympics. Before Paris 2024, India had never won a track medal, however, they have now won three in the ongoing edition, with Preethi bagging two bronze medals in women’s 100m and 200m T35 events.

Deepthi finished first in her heat with a timing of 55.45s to qualify for the finals. In the finals, Deepthi started strongly. However, after the first 200m, it was the current Paralympic Champion Breanna Clark of the USA who took the lead. In the end, Yuliia Shuliar of Ukraine won gold with a personal best timing of 55.16s. She finished with the silver medal in Tokyo but has now leapt take the gold medal.

Also Read: Top 13 Indian athletes with most medals at Paralympics

The new world record holder Aysel Onder won the silver medal with a timing of 55.23. Onder who set a new world record of 54.96 in the heats accelerated in the final 100m to snatch the silver medal from Deepthi’s grasp. Meanwhile, defending champion Breanna Clark finished fourth with a timing of 56.43, after failing to keep pace in the final 60m.

Coming from Telangana Deepthi has made some waves in the para circuit. She won the gold medal in the Asian Para Games 2022. The 200-born para-athlete suffers from an intellectual impairment which makes it difficult for her to express feelings. Despite these challenges, Deepthi has done well so far and will look to improve her performance in the future.

In the Asian Para Games, she broke the games and the Area record to win the gold. In the world championships, she created a new world record of 55.07 to win the title. The world record was later shattered by Onder of Turkey.

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