Key Points
Paralympic bronze medalist honored at SRM University
Athlete secured multiple international medals in para-athletics
Young talent recognized with Arjuna Award and prize money
Emerged from Khelo India athlete program
Deepthi secured a bronze medal at the Paris Paralympics last year in the 400 m T20. In the same competition category, she has gold medals in the 2022 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou and the 2024 World Para Athletics Championships in Kobe.
Deepthi, who is currently pursuing a B.Com (Commerce) from the SRM University, was given a prize money of Rs 25 lakh for her accomplishments.
During the Paralympics 2024, the 21-year-old was quick off the blocks but fell short in the final phase of the race, finishing behind Ukraine's Yuliia Shuliar and Turkey's Aysel Onder in Paris.
In a race that was decided by the narrowest of margins, Deepthi clocked 55.82 seconds to add a bronze to India's medal tally. Yuliia claimed the gold with a timing of 55.16 seconds, while Aysel secured silver with a timing of 55.23 seconds.
Deepthi had made her way into the final with a sensational run in the qualification round, finishing first in her Women's 400m T20 Round 1 heat with a time of 55.45 seconds.
Deepthi, whose talent was discovered by SAI coach N Ramesh in Hyderabad, started her para-athletics journey in 2019. She has been a Khelo India athlete since 2018 and is a centreal government's Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) athlete. In a short period, she has won many international competitions, including a Gold Medal at the Asian Para Games and a Gold Medal at the 2024 World Championship, where she broke the world record. In the domestic circuit, she made a mark by winning two medals at the Khelo India Youth Games in 2020.
