Hailing from Chikkamagaluru, Rakshitha Raju, who was born with a visible impairment, discovered solace in operating. She has overcome immense challenges to turn into the primary Indian girl to compete within the Girls’s 1500m T-11 Class on the 2024 Paris Paralympics.
Within the coronary heart of Chikkamagaluru, Karnataka, a younger lady Rakshitha Raju found her ardour for operating on the dusty grounds of Ashakirana College for the Blind.
Born with a visible impairment and orphaned early in life, Rakshitha was raised by her grandmother, who herself struggled with speech and listening to disabilities. Regardless of these challenges, Rakshitha’s spirit remained resilient as she discovered consolation within the regular rhythm of her footsteps on the monitor.
Her journey from these humble beginnings to turning into the primary Indian girl to compete within the Girls’s 1500m T-11 Class on the 2024 Paris Paralympics is greater than a private victory — it marks a major second for Indian sports activities, symbolising a broader push in direction of inclusivity.
At Ashakirana College for the Blind, Rakshitha’s love for athletics was nurtured underneath the steering of her bodily schooling trainer. He assured that operating might open doorways to new locations, telling her that if she excelled as a runner, she might journey throughout cities and states by practice.
Travelling was her dream, and operating grew to become her practice ticket! However now, the story has modified. At this time, gold is her dream, and operating is her ardour.
The turning level in Rakshitha’s life got here when she met Rahul Balakrishna, a coach and information runner who recognised her potential. Rahul grew to become greater than only a coach; he grew to become the inspiration of her athletic profession, even taking out a mortgage of Rs 2 lakh to cowl coaching and journey bills for competitions.
Whereas this help illuminated her path, she was fast to grasp that India was not a straightforward place for individuals with disabilities. “I used to be mocked by everybody, even my relations. And, my solely objective was to go away from all of the negativity,” she mirrored.
Speaking about her achievements, Rakshitha has constantly confirmed her distinctive expertise on the worldwide stage. She gained gold medals in each the 1500m and 800m occasions on the World Para Athletics Junior Championships in Switzerland.
Persevering with her success, she struck gold once more final yr on the Asian Para Video games in Hangzhou, dominating the Girls’s 1500m T11 class with a private finest time of 5 minutes and 21.45 seconds.
Though she missed the chance to compete within the Tokyo Paralympics in 2020, Rakshitha is extra decided to make up for it with a robust efficiency this time round. “I’m extremely honoured and excited to characterize India on the Paris Paralympics. This journey has been full of challenges, however every step has introduced me nearer to my dream,” she mentioned.
As Rakshitha will step onto the monitor in Paris on 1 September, 2024, she is going to carry along with her the hopes of a nation and the aspirations of numerous others who see their very own struggles mirrored in her journey.
She isn’t just operating a race; she is chasing a future the place even essentially the most distant desires are inside attain.
Edited by Pranita Bhat
Sources:
Rakshitha Raju set to make India proud at Paris Paralympics as first Indian feminine athlete in 1500m race: by ANI, Printed on 28 August 2024.
Rakshitha Raju discovered herself by way of sport. Now she needs to win gold at Paralympics 2024: by The Print, Printed on 30 August 2024.
Who Is Rakshitha Raju, India’s 1st Feminine Athlete In 1500m Race At Paris Paralympics 2024: by india.com, Printed on 29 August 2024.
Meet Rakshitha Raju: India’s 1500m Sensation At Paris Paralympics 2024: by NDTV, Printed on 28 August 2024.
