Jyothi Yarraji to keep focus on 100m hurdles after 200m gold in Ranchi

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Jyothi Yarraji said that 100m hurdles remain her priority in the season after the national record holder won two gold medals in her forte event and 200m flat at the recently-concluded Federation Cup in Ranchi.

Jyothi Yarraji clocked 12.89 seconds to post the second fastest timing in Asia in the 100m hurdles, making her one of the front runners for the gold medal at the Asia Athletics Championships and Asian Games later this year.

The 23-year-old runner also clocked her personal best in 200m with a timing of 23.42 seconds. while beating the likes of Archana Suseendran and Daneshwari Ashok to the finish line. Injured Hima Das and suspended Dutee Chand were missing from the event.

"I always focus on hurdles as it is my favourite event," Yarraji told myKhel in Ranchi. "But coach (James Hillier) was impressed with my timings in 200m during training and asked me to try once. Hurdles remain my priority but I trust my coach when he suggests something as he understands my body."

Coach Hillier, who trains Jyothi, 200m national record holder Amlan Borgohain and other runners in Mumbai now, reiterated the same saying the purpose of entering her for two events was to give her more competition to participate in.

"She is a quality athlete and is capable of running 100m, 200m, and even 400m as well," said the Englishman. "Running her in 200m was to give her more events to participate in but hurdles will always come first. If 200m compliments her hurdles, will like to run her more in the event."

Jyothi Yarraji also competed in the 100m last season and ran 11:45 seconds at the National Games and was part of the women's 100m relay team at the Commonwealth Games as well, where India finished fourth. She was a late inclusion in the squad after S Dhanalakshmi and MV Jilna were caught in the dope net.

The need for her to be in the relay team may further arise this year with national record holder Dutee reportedly serving a dope suspension. Coach Hillier said they don't mind another call-up to the relay squad.

"We will be glad if she is asked to be part of the relay team again. Jyothi absolutely loved it. The relay races are at the end of the individual event so it doesn't hinder our plans with the hurdles," explained Hillier.

'Jyothi may go quicker in 2023'

As far as hurdles are concerned, Jyothi Yarraji made a positive start to the season as a sub-13 timing came early as June in the season. Last year, she became the first Indian woman to breach the sub-13 barrier as she clocked 12.79 seconds and 12.82 seconds late in the season in October. The latter timing is a current national record as the 12.79 seconds outing came with a tailwind at the National Games.

Her 12.89 run last week came after a long indoor season as the hurdler competed in four 60 metre hurdles international events, including the Asian Indoor Championships in February. She also set the national record at the event with a timing of 8.13 seconds to clinch the silver medal.

A good pace early on either point out at an increase in the pace of the runner or an early peak in the season. Jyothi's physiotherapist Nilesh Makwana explained that Jyothi is showing good pace this season as coach Hillier has not increased the load on her training with the Asian Championships and Asian Games to come later this season.

"A sub-13 timing this early is a good improvement because the coach hasn't increased her training load for this event since this was her second outdoor competition this season after Indian Grand Prix in April," said Makwana, who is part of Hillier's coaching staff at Reliance Sports Foundation. "The result makes us hopeful of a better timing with plenty of major events to come."