In a journey that reads like a tale of grit meeting destiny, Deepthi Jeevanji has emerged as one of India’s most inspiring para-athletes transforming early adversity into a career filled with world-class achievements and breaking barriers for athletes with intellectual impairments.
Born on September 27, 2003, in the small village of Kalleda in Telangana’s Warangal district, Deepthi’s life began in circumstances that few would have pegged for sporting stardom. Diagnosed with an intellectual disability at a young age, she faced not only physical challenges but also societal bias and stigma. Villagers and even some acquaintances reportedly labelled her as “different,” with some advising her parents to give up on her future before it had even begun. Yet, those early whispers of doubt only fueled her journey forward.
Deepthi’s natural running ability was first recognised by her school’s physical education teacher, who noticed her speed on the dusty school grounds long before international fame beckoned. That initial spark led to encouragement from coach N Ramesh, a seasoned Athletics Federation of India trainer. Ramesh saw potential in the young runner that few others did and invited her to train in Hyderabad, even arranging transport when her family could not afford bus fare, a gesture that changed her life’s trajectory.
Her talent blossomed quickly. At just 15, she won a bronze medal at the Asian Youth Championships in Hong Kong and followed it with double gold in the 100m and 200m at the 2020 Khelo India Youth Games. Her meteoric rise continued as she rapidly became one of the brightest prospects in Indian para-athletics.
Deepthi’s first major global breakthrough came at the 2024 World Para Athletics Championships in Kobe, Japan, where she won gold in the women’s 400m T20 event and with it, set a world record timing of 55.06 seconds. Her dominant performance not only secured victory but etched her name on the world’s elite list in para-athletics.
Later that year, at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, Deepthi continued her rise by capturing a bronze medal in the same event (women’s 400m T20), making her one of the most successful Indian para-athletes on the sport’s grandest stage.
In 2025, she further proved her consistency and elite status by securing a silver medal at the World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi, once again finishing among the world’s best. Deepthi’s achievements have not gone unnoticed. In recognition of her extraordinary contributions to para-athletics and for breaking down barriers for differently-abled athletes in India, she was awarded the prestigious Arjuna Award in 2025, one of the nation’s highest sporting honours.
Her success has also brought significant rewards from her home state of Telangana. Following her Paralympic bronze, state leadership felicitated her with a cash prize, a plot of land, and a government job offer, acknowledging her as a source of pride and inspiration.
Deepthi’s story resonates far beyond tracks and medals. Her rise from running barefoot across school fields to standing on global podiums exemplifies strength in the face of adversity. At just 22 years old, she has already rewritten the narrative around athletes with intellectual impairments in India and stands as a role model for aspiring sportspeople across the country.
Despite the prejudice she once faced, Deepthi now receives admiration from many of the same communities that once doubted her, proving that perseverance and belief can outpace discouragement. “You don’t answer taunts with words,” she has said “you answer with hard work.”
With ambitions of paralympic gold and even greater feats ahead, Deepthi’s journey is far from over but already it stands as one of India’s most remarkable stories of athletic courage and human determination.
