Indian track and field athlete Jyothi Yarraji, who will be participating in her maiden Asian Games in Hangzhou is confident in her abilities and is not feeling the pressure. The 24-year-old will be in action in the 100m hurdles and the 200m event at the Asiad. DFans will expect that the athlete finishes on the podium on both occasions.
In a recent interview with Sportstar, Yarraji shared that she is up for any kind of challenge and will see how things pan out when she reaches the venue. She is not taking any added pressure in her maiden appearance at the Asian Games.
“Honestly, I am not feeling any pressure as of now ahead of my maiden Asiad. Let me see how things shape up when we reach the venue. But, I am ready for any kind of challenge,” Yarraji stated.
The youngster revealed that she has been working on her technical aspects and her aim is to better her Asian record at the Asian Games and run as fast as possible. “In the Asian Games, the objective is to run fast and better my Asian performance. I have been working on some technical aspects to ensure the desired all-round improvement,” she said.
Yarraji’s main aim remains the 2024 Paris Olympics and she sees the Asian Games as a stepping stone to that event. She will have to rub off her recent disappointment at the 2023 World Athletics Championship in Budapest and start afresh in Hangzhou, China.
“Honestly, I look at this Asiad as part of the bigger picture of making it to the Olympics. So, I look at every opportunity to keep improving. I have to keep really working hard to realize the ultimate goal of making it to the 2024 Paris Olympics,” Jyothi Yarraji said
The hurdler paid her gratitude to the people who have always supported her in her journey. She credits former Indian athlete HM Jyothi for her success at this level. The former Commonwealth games bronze medalist has worked with Yarraji and has helped her in honing her skills.
“Jyothi akka is the biggest inspiration for me. I just can’t imagine what life would have been without her great support. I am always grateful to all those who helped me to come this far. Obviously, she had belief in my abilities before anyone else could even have a look at me,” Yarraji credited.
She also thanked her coaches N. Ramesh and James Hillier Miller for their unwavering support in her journey. It will be fascinating to see how Yarraji performs at the big stage in the Asian Games. Her confident demeanour will surely give the Indian fans a lot of expectation to see her at the podium at the end of the event.
