Indian women’s 4x400m relay team members Rupal Chaudhary, MR Poovamma, Jyothika Sri Dandi and Subha Venkatesan
An academically oriented child is a dream realized in most Indian households and that is why Jyothika Sri Dandi, an Olympic runner, aspired to become a doctor before realizing that her father would be happier seeing her excel in sports.
The 23-year-old from Tanuku town in West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh secured 97 percent in class
But her father Srinivasa Rao, a bodybuilder in his younger days, encouraged her to take interest in sports as he wanted to see her in the Olympics one day. That dream will become a reality in less than three months.
Jyothika was part of the Indian women’s 4x400m relay team that qualified for the Paris Olympics during the World Relays in the Bahamas earlier this month.
“I got 97 percent in class in the Federation Cup here, PTI told in an interview.
“My father believed that I had the talent to do well in athletics and bring laurels to the country at the Olympic Games. Seeing his sacrifice and passion to shape me into a successful athlete, I decided to fulfill his dreams to follow.
“I didn’t tell him I wanted to be a doctor because I want to make him happy. Until 2017 I had no interest in sports, but around 2020 I started to get interested.”
Her mother is a housewife and she has an older sister who recently got married.
“My father was a bodybuilder when he was young but stopped because there was no family support. Now he is a businessman. He is very interested in sports and he pushed me a lot and he wants me to compete in the Olympics .
“Thanks to him, I didn’t have to struggle much. He takes care of everything. So now I want to fulfill his dream of seeing me perform well at the Olympics,” said Jyothika, who has a personal best of 52.73 seconds at the individual level . 400m.
It all started after Jyothika won races in school meets and that’s when her father realized his daughter’s talent.
“I finished first in the annual school sports competitions in the 200 and 400 meters and even in some competitions organized by clubs.
“He took me to meet the PET teacher at school when I was in seventh grade (about twelve years old). I ran on the mud trails at a college near me. I started participating in district and state meets when I was around. ninth grade in 2014.”
Between 2014 and 2021, Jyothika trained under Sports Authority of India coach Vinayak Prasad in Vijaywada.
In 2021, she trained under Ramesh Nagpuri, the current head coach of the junior national team, in Hyderabad for a year, during which she ran her then personal best of 53.05 seconds, after which she was called up to the national camp.
“I won national medals, went to the World School Games and the Asian Youth Championships, but I had no interest in sports. Until 2017, I had no interest in sports.
“To become a doctor I had to choose science, but after class X I started studying CEC (Civics, Economics, Commerce).”
Jyothika won national U18 titles in the 400 meters in 2017. She won her first national title at the senior level at the 2021 National Open in the 400 meters.
Jyothika eventually enrolled herself in Siddhartha Women’s College in Vijaywada, where the principal allowed her to take the 12th class exam without attending too many classes.
“I couldn’t attend classes because of the camp and competition, but the director allowed me to take the exam because the university supports sports.
“I have completed Class XII and have now started graduation, but I can no longer attend classes.”
Jyothika said the Indian women’s relay team can hope for a medal at the 2028 Olympics.
“Realistically, I think it will be difficult to win a medal this time, but after four years (2028 Olympics) we can be on the podium if we work hard,” she said.
(Only the headline and image of this report may have been reworked by Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is automatically generated from a syndicated feed.)
First print: May 13, 2024 | 5:04 PM IST