Only hardcore enthusiasts would have been aware of Jyothi Yarraji a few years back but within a short time, the hurdler has emerged as one of India’s brightest athlete.

Only in her early 20s, Jyothi Yarraji is currently the fastest Indian in the women’s 100m hurdles.

Born on August 28, 1999, in Visakhapatnam , Andhra Pradesh, Jyothi Yarraji, like many former and contemporary Indian athletes, grew up with limited means.

Her father, Suryanarayana, works as a private security guard while her mother, Kumari, is a domestic help who works part-time as a cleaner in a city hospital. Combined, they earned less than per month.

Jyothi, however, was destined for better things and she was set on that path during her days at Vizag’s Port High School Krishna. Her physical education teacher felt she had good height to be a hurdler and there was no looking back.