National Games 2023: Jyothi Yarraji breaks own meet record to clinch gold in 100m hurdles

Nithya Ramraj and Sapna Kumari won silver and bronze medals in a close finish.

National record holder Jyothi Yarraji summed up her season by winning gold medal in women's 100m hurdles at the ongoing National Games 2023. Jyothi representing Andhra Pradesh broke her own meet record set last year in Gujarat (13.30 seconds) by clocking 13.22 seconds on Monday (October 30) at the Athletics Stadium in Bambolim.

Other athletes in the event, Nithya Ramaraj and Sapna Kumari clinched silver, bronze medals by clocking 13.36 and 13.42 seconds respectively. Earlier in the day, Jyothi Yarraji, finished first in her respective heat by clocking 13.33 seconds.

Jyothi Yarraji, 23, had a good season overall by breaking her own national record at the World University Games 2023 clocking 12.78 seconds. She started her season by winning silver in the Asian Indoor Championship in 60m event. A few months later, she took part in the Indian Grand Prix followed by a flurry of European meets.

In her primary event, 100m hurdles, Jyothi Yarraji went below 13 seconds barrier seven times with the latest at the Asian Games 2023. At the Asian Championships, she clinched gold by recording 13.09 seconds. A few days later, she created a new national record at the University Games - just shy from qualifying for Paris Olympics.

At the World Championships 2023, first major World event, Jyothi clocked seventh in heats and failed to qualify for the final. Later on, the national record holder won historic silver at the Asian Games 2023. With Paris Olympics 2024 next year, the athlete from Andhra Pradesh will look to come back stronger post the off-season.

In the men's section, Tejas Shirse in the men's 110m hurdles won the gold medal with a timing of 13.71 seconds. A week earlier, he clocked his personal best mark of 13.60 seconds at the U-23 National Championships.