Deepthi Jeevanji To Become India’s First Paralympian With An Intellectual Impairment

Deepthi Jeevanji is set to script history by becoming India’s first-ever athlete with intellectual impairment to be at any Paralympic Games, with a strong prospect of winning a medal for her country too after her splendid world record-breaking performance at Kobe 2024. As she prepares for her Paralympic debut in Paris 2024, the world watches in anticipation of her continued success. 

For years, Deepthi Jeevanji’s parents endured taunts from their fellow villagers in Telangana’s Kalleda hamlet for having an “intellectually impaired” child. However, today they celebrate her as a world record holder and a beacon of inspiration. 

Born to daily wage labourers J.Yadagiri and J.Dhanalaxmi in the Warangal district of Hyderabad, India, 20-year-old Deepthi faced numerous challenges growing up. Financial struggles and societal prejudices were part of her everyday life, with villagers doubting her potential and prospects for the future. Despite these obstacles, her athletic talent shone through early on. Discovered at a school meeting in Warangal by coach Nagpuri Ramesh, Deepthi’s journey into professional athletics began. 

Financial difficulties nearly derailed her training. Ramesh, recognizing her potential, ensured she could travel to Hyderabad for proper training, even covering her bus fare.  

“She was spotted in a school meet through a PE teacher in Warangal. When I told them to send Deepthi, they said they didn’t have money for bus fare. I told them to just board a bus and give me the phone number of the conductor,” Ramesh recalled during an interview with PTI.  

“After that, I explained to the bus conductor to let her board the bus and told him I would pay the fare when she reached Hyderabad. During the 130 km journey from Warangal to Hyderabad, I kept calling the bus conductor inquiring about her safety.” 

Her parents’ financial struggles included selling their half-acre land, but their fortunes began to change when Deepthi started winning medals. With the Rs 30 lakh reward from her gold medal at the Para Asian Games, they bought back their land and resumed farming.  

“Deepthi’s parents are now doing better. They have bought land with the money Deepthi got as a reward for her achievements and have started farming,” Ramesh said. 

Deepthi received her international eligibility with Virtus in July 2022 which opened doors for her at the international para-sports competitions. 

“My first international competition was Virtus Global Games. After playing these games I know something. I come to know about Para sports. I also came to know about Asian games through Virtus and slowly about the Paralympic Games,” Deepthi told Virtus.  

Deepthi’s breakthrough came with her gold medal win in the 400m T20 category at the Hangzhou Asian Para Games, setting an Asian record time of 56.69 seconds. This victory transformed her life and the perception of her community.

“After Deepthi won gold in the Hangzhou Asian Para Games last year, the scenario changed. Now, the same villagers are praising them for being parents of Deepthi. They told me this when they came to Hyderabad after the Para Asian Games. They told me even the district collector and politicians of the area visited their house, which was a shock to them, considering how things have changed.” 

Deepthi went on to win two silvers in Women’s II1 200m and 400m at 2023 Virtus Global Games later.

Training Deepthi was not without its challenges. Ramesh noted,

“You cannot teach her too many techniques as she is slow in learning things. If you do that, she will get confused.”

Nonetheless, his innovative coaching and support from others, including Chief National Badminton Coach Pullela Gopichand, who facilitated her certification as “intellectually impaired,” allowed her to compete in para meets. 

Deepthi’s rise was further supported by the Gopi-Mytrah Foundation, which sponsored her participation in international events, enabling her to secure the international license required for para-athletes. This sponsorship was crucial in her journey to becoming a world record holder.

On May 20, 2024, Deepthi Jeevanji broke the T20 world record with a time of 55.07 seconds in the women’s 400m race at the Para Athletics World Championship in Kobe, Japan. This victory not only earned her a gold medal but also secured her qualification for the upcoming Paris Paralympics.

Deepthi Jeevanji’s record-breaking performance at Kobe 2024 is a testament to her resilience and determination. Her success has brought immense pride to her family and village and has inspired countless others facing similar challenges.

Deepthi’s story is a powerful reminder of the extraordinary potential within each of us, regardless of the obstacles we face. Her triumph at Kobe 2024 is not just a personal victory but a victory for all who dare to dream and work tirelessly to achieve those dreams.

Join Virtus’ #MakingInvisibleVISIBLE campaign in making Deepthi’s journey Visible. 

WHAT IS INTELLECTUAL IMPAIRMENT? 

 Intellectual impairment is an umbrella term to describe a vast and neuro-diverse group of people with varying types of cognitive impairments including intellectual disability, Down syndrome and autism. Having an intellectual impairment impacts how an athlete understands the rules of the sport, interacts with other players, and adjusts to different environments. They might find it difficult to manage reaction times, remember specific race or game strategies, retain focus for long period of time, or maintaining impulse control.