Jyothi Yarraji Suffers Knee Injury, Jeopardising World Championships Aspirations

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Jyothi Yarraji, an Asian champion and national record holder in the 100m hurdles, recently sustained a knee injury during training. This setback could impact her chances of competing in the World Championships in Tokyo this September.

Yarraji, who also won a silver medal at the Asian Games, shared this news on Instagram, expressing her disappointment over pausing her season.

Yarraji's current best time is 12.96 seconds, achieved while winning gold at the Asian Championships in May. Although she hasn't met the direct qualification mark of 12.73 seconds, her performance places her among the top 16 athletes eligible for the World Championships through world rankings. She currently holds the 12th spot in this ranking.

World Championships Qualification

There are two ways athletes can qualify for the World Championships: by meeting the direct qualification time or through world ranking quotas. The qualification period remains open until August 24. Yarraji must maintain her ranking by participating in upcoming events to secure her place.

After the Paris Olympics in 2024, Yarraji faced a hip flexor injury during training in Finland, which affected her preparation. At the beginning of the 2025 season, she adjusted her technique from a seven-stride to an eight-stride approach to minimise injury risks.

Recent Achievements and Future Plans

This year, Yarraji clinched gold medals in both the 100m hurdles and 200m race at the Uttarakhand National Games in February. She also secured first place in the 100m hurdles at the Federation Cup and successfully defended her title at the Asian Championships. Her latest victory was at the Taiwan Athletics Open on June 7.

Despite these challenges, Yarraji remains optimistic about overcoming this hurdle with support and blessings from well-wishers. "Injuries are part of an athlete's journey and I'm viewing this as just another hurdle I'm going to overcome soon with all your support and blessings. I'll be back stronger," she stated.

The 25-year-old athlete is collaborating with her medical team to evaluate her options and decide on future steps. She returned to competition this season after recovering from an injury post-Paris Olympics last year.

With inputs from PTI