Deepthi Jeevanji: Daughter of daily wage labourers, storms to bronze medal at Paris Paralympics

Deepthi Jeevanji had achieved a historic milestone as the first Indian athlete with an intellectual impairment to participate at a Paralympic Games. On Tuesday (September 3), she topped her world record-setting showing to win a bronze medal at the Paris Paralympics in the women’s 400m T20 event.

Born to daily wage labourers J. Yadagiri and J. Dhanalaxmi in the Warangal, Hyderabad, the 20-year-old Deepthi overcame numerous challenges to get here.

Growing up under financial difficulties, she encountered societal prejudices and scepticism from villagers over abilities. However, amidst these challenges, her athletic talent emerged as a beacon of hope and determination to make her stand out.

Her parents recalled how her unusual features at birth had led relatives and acquaintances to suggest they abandon the child.

The eldest child was later discovered to have been born with intellectual disability, affecting both communication and adaptive skills.

For many years, Deepthi and her parents faced ridicule from villagers in Telangana’s Kalleda. However, today, they celebrate her as a world record holder and soon, as a Paralympic bronze medallist.

“She was born during the solar eclipse and her head was very small at birth along with the lips and nose being a bit unusual. Every villager who saw her and some of our relatives would call Deepthi pichi (mental) and kothi (monkey) and tell us to send her to an orphanage. Today, seeing her become the world champion in a far-off country proves that she is indeed a special girl,” Dhanalaxmi was quoted as saying by The Indian Express.

Deepthi’s athletic talent was discovered by her school Physical Education teacher Biyani Venkateshwaralu at the Rural Development Foundation (RDF) School, when she was in Class 9 in Warangal.

She would outrace her able-bodied competitors during 100m and 200m races.

She then received coaching from Nagpuri Ramesh, the Indian Junior team coach who has also worked with Dutee Chand. He saw her compete during a state meet in 2019.

Her parents, daily wage workers struggled to make ends meet by working at farms nearby. Hailing from Kalleda in Telangana, 150 kms from Hyderabad, sending her for sports training was a pipe dream.

Additional support came from legendary shuttler Pullela Gopichand, who recommended her to undergo testing at the National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with Intellectual Disability in Hyderabad. After necessary tests, she was certified as mentally impaired, qualifying her to compete as a para athlete.

Gopichand provided financial support to Deepthi through his foundation. “We needed an international license for her and Gopichand came on board to fund her trips. We went to Morocco and Australia and got her international classification,” said Ramesh to Hindustan Times.

“When my husband’s father died, we had to sell the farm to make ends meet. My husband would earn Rs 100 or Rs 150 a day so there were days when I had to work to support our family, including Deepthi’s younger sister Amulya. Deepthi was always a calm child and spoke very little. But when the village kids would tease her, she would come home and cry. So I would make her sweet rice or, on some days, chicken and that’s what made her happy,” her mother recalled.

From the cash rewards that Deepthi received, her parents were able to buy a small piece of land to farm on their own.

At the Para Asian Games in Hangzhou, China last year, Deepthi won a gold medal with an Asian record time of 56.69 seconds. At the World Para Grand Prix in Morocco, she won gold in 400m event and another yellow metal arrived at the Para Oceania-Pacific Games in Australia.

Achievements

2019 Asian Youth Championships: Bronze medal

Asian Para Games (2022) - Gold medal (GR, AR)

World Championship (2024) - Gold Medal (WR)

Government support

Two Foreign Exposures in China, Japan

Financial Assistance towards Training & Competitions

Financial Assistance extended towards expert services of coach and support staff

Out of Pocket Allowance under TOPS

Out of Pocket Allowance under Khelo India along with Training facility.