New Delhi: India’s campaign at the World Para Athletics Championships got off to a promising start as sprinter Deepthi Jeevanji qualified for the final of the women’s 400m T20 event with a season-best performance in New Delhi on Friday. The 22-year-old athlete from Telangana clocked 58.35 seconds to top the second heat of the opening round.
In the first heat, Leonela Coromoto Vera Colina of Venezuela finished first with a timing of 57.10 seconds, marking her season’s best, while current world record holder Aysel Onder of Turkey secured second place in 57.88 seconds. Onder had set the world record of 54.96 seconds at the Paris Paralympics last year.
From Heat 1, Ukraine’s Yuliia Shuliar (58.01s) also advanced to the final. In Heat 2, Diana Vivenes of the Dominican Republic (59.41s) and Australia’s Telaya Blacksmith (1:00.10) finished second and third, respectively, securing their places in the medal round. Additionally, based on the next fastest times, Ecuador’s Mayerli Minda (58.98s) and Portugal’s Carina Paim (59.61s) also made the cut.
