Asian Games silver medalist in women’s 100m hurdles Jyothi Yarraji raises issue of financial security

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India's Hangzhou Asian Games silver medalist in women's 100m hurdles Jyothi Yarraji rues lack of financial security as she prepares for the challenging 2025 season featuring World Athletics Championships in September.

"There is no good job for me in my home state Andhra Pradesh. I'm working with Indian Railways for peanuts," the national record holder over 100m hurdles said in Uttarakhand on Friday (February 7).

Fresh from improving her own national indoor 60m hurdles record, the 25 years old Andhra Pradesh's international hurdler main goal at the 38th Uttarakhand National Games starting Saturday is to win gold and earn Rs 5 lakh cash award.

"I'm starting my outdoor season too early to earn money. My state government will give a cash incentive of Rs 5 lakh for winning gold at the National Games," the promising hurdler on Friday said. "The cash award will help me to support my parents."

Jyothi was candid in saying being an Olympian and Asian Games medalist she has to worry about financial stability. "Andhra Pradesh state government doesn't have a concrete policy to support an elite athlete like me. The state government should have offered me a good job for future financial security. But it has not happened so far," the 25 years old said of step motherly treatment by the state government.

Jyothi who recently was conferred with prestigious Arjuna Award said, she was seriously thinking of representing another state in future where she can earn more respect. "Several states have good opportunities for outstanding players. The Olympian and Asian Games medalist get good jobs too," she explained.

According to the national record holder in women's 100m hurdles, she has a sponsor (Reliance Foundation) that takes care of international exposure and training. "But the sponsor doesn't pay me for my personal expenses. I've to take care of my parents," she added.

Jyothi works with Indian Railways and claims she gets a meagre monthly salary of Rs 27,000 which is inadequate at the moment. "I didn't get a promotion despite winning medals at international level. There should be some equality," she asserted.

Speaking about her recent indoor performance in Europe, Jyothi claimed she was on the right track. "My indoor performance of 8.04 seconds over 60m hurdles has added to my confidence," she added. "There is always an urge to do better. My goal was to break the eight-minute barrier."

While her goal for the outdoor season is to further improve her national record of 12.78 seconds in coming months. "I'm focusing on improving my start and being steady between the hurdles," she explained. "Smooth sailing over the hurdles will certainly enable me to clock a better time during the main outdoor season."