August 2024

From Chikkamagaluru, Karnataka.

Her mother died when she was only two years old, and her father when she was 10. She and her younger brother were raised by their grandmother, who has a speech and hearing impairment.

The first Indian female athlete with a visual impairment to compete in the Women’s 1500m T11 race.

Her participation in the Women’s 1500m Running T-11 Category alone is a milestone in India’s sporting history

“Now, winning an Olympic gold is my sole wish. I want to win the first gold medal of this season,” said Raju.

clinching gold in both the 1500m and 800m events at the World Para Athletics Junior Championships in Switzerland

Last year, she won gold once again at the Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, dominating the women’s 1500m T11 category with a personal best time of 5 minutes, and 21.45 seconds

She missed the Tokyo paralympics in 2020.

Last year, after she won a gold medal at the Asian Para Games, she met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who later congratulated her on X.

“Her exceptional performance and unwavering dedication fill the hearts of India with joy and admiration. May she continue to sprint towards even more illustrious achievements,” he tweeted.

Her current coach and guide runner, Rahul Balakrishna, took a loan of Rs 2 lakh to fund the training and travelling expenses for athletic meets.

In Paralympic track events, visually impaired athletes classified as T11, T12, or T13 race with a guide-runner by their side. Together, they form a synchronised team, with the guide-runner helping the athlete stay on course.

According to the Paralympic website, these para-athletes “also need special equipment: eye patches to be placed under opaque glasses and a guiding tether to put all athletes on the same level, whatever their visual impairment.”

Bengaluru based GoSports Foundation, an NGO stepped in to help her financially and hone her skills as an athlete. The support she gets includes coaching fees, nutrition advice, travel expenses to participate in tournaments, and even sporting gear.

The not-for-profit organisation is supporting 17 para-athletes in India’s 84-member contingent this year.

After winning gold at the Paralympics, Raju has trained her attention on the next milestone. She wants to become an IAS officer.