Deepthi Jeevanji
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A brief biography
As in 2024 Sept
Manne Ratnakar, Sep 5, 2024: The Times of India
Hyderabad : Before winning the 400m bronze in the T20 category of the Paris Paralympics on Tuesday, Deepthi Jeevanji had stunned everyone by setting the 400m world record (55.07 seconds) in the para World championships in Kobe, Japan in May. But it is what she did in between the two global sports meets that has established her status as a true champion.
Deepthi recently bought back half of the one-acre plot in Kalleda village in Warangal, her home, which her daily-wager parents had sold eight years ago to support her. The plot was the only possession of value the family had. Gifting the plot back was her way of thanking her parents for not giving up on her.
All her life Deepthi had been called a ‘monkey’ and ‘pichchi’ (mentally deranged) by villagers. Her parents, Yadagiri and Dhanalaxmi, were even advised to “get rid of her”. But they loved her unconditionally and did not hesitate to sell their plot for Rs 9 lakh in 2016 to fund Deepthi’s dream of becoming an athlete. She bought back half an acre of the same plot for Rs 11 lakh with the award money received from the Central government for her gold at the Asian Games in Guangzhou, China last year.
Despite expecting a gold, Deepthi’s mother Dhanalaxmi was elated with her performance in Paris. “She had a fever and severe headache for the last three days. But she was not allowed to take any medication. She wanted to skip the event but decided to compete at the last minute. Our lives became better after my daughter bought back that land,” Dhanalaxmi told TOI on Wednesday, tears rolling down her cheeks.
Deepthi’s guru, her physical education teacher Biyani Venkateswarlu, is battling a paralytic attack and can hardly eat or drink. He smiled on knowing his ward’s feat. It was Venkateswarlu who told renowned national athletics coach Nagpuri Ramesh about Deepthi. Ramesh arranged for Deepthi to come to the Gopichand Badminton Academy where Mytrah Foundation was running a programme for athletes who couldn’t afford quality coaching.
Deepthi initially competed with able-bodied athletes, but famed badminton coach P Gopichand noticed that her IQ was low and moved her to the T20 category.
“I am delighted that Deepthi won the lone Paralympic medal from the two Telugu states. It was a result of eight years of hard work. She did not take a single break, did not watch any movies, did not go shopping... I congratulate and thank all the coaches and supporting staff of SAI, Gachibowli Stadium, Gaudium, Rural Development Foundation and Gopichand Academy,” Ramesh said.
