Mumbai, 14 March 2025

 

The Sports Authority of India (SAI) Regional Centre, Mumbai, organised ‘Meet The Champion’ event at Agnel Charities, a Khelo India-accredited academy in Navi Mumbai on 13^th March 2025. Olympian Jyothi Yarraji, who graced the event inspired over 1,500 students and Khelo India athletes, by sharing her journey as an elite Indian athlete.

   

Regional Director, SAI Regional Centre Mumbai, Pandurang Chate Shri Pandurang Chate applauded Jyothi’s perseverance and encouraged students to draw inspiration from her journey. He urged young athletes to work hard, remain dedicated, and strive to bring glory to the nation through sports.

During her address, Jyothi Yarraji shared her remarkable journey from humble beginnings to becoming a record-breaking 100 m hurdler. She candidly spoke about the challenges she faced, including how her parents, initially unfamiliar with sports, considered getting her married at the age of 16. However, with unwavering determination, she convinced them to give her a year to prove herself. That pivotal moment led her to national and international success, and today, at 25 years old, she has broken multiple national records, continuing her pursuit of Olympic glory.

She emphasized that watching the Indian flag rise on the podium while the national anthem plays is the proudest moment for any athlete. She also highlighted the importance of balancing education with sports, the role of sports science in performance enhancement, and how sports transformed her life—helping her learn multiple languages beyond Telugu and shaping her into a globally recognized athlete.

Assistant Director of SAI RC Mumbai, Ms. Apoorva Manda and Ms. Snigdha Roy, Principal of Agnel Charities, Fr. Saturnino Almeida, Trustee of Agnel Charities, also attended the event.

The event concluded with a Q&A session where students and athletes had the opportunity to interact with Jyothi Yarraji. They gained insights into her training routines, mental resilience, and strategies for overcoming obstacles.

 

About Meet The Champions

"Meet the Champions" campaign organised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) comprises champion athletes visiting schools to share their personal experiences, life lessons, tips on healthy eating, and offering overall inspiration to school children.

 

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