Paralympian Deepthi Jeevanji’s grand welcome at Hyderabad airport | WATCH

New Delhi: Hyderabad's Rajiv Gandhi International Airport was buzzed with excitement on Friday as it welcomed home Deepthi Jeevanji, a para-athlete who made history at the Paris Paralympics 2024. Deepthi, from Kalleda village in Telangana's Warangal district, won a bronze medal in the women's 400m T20 final with a remarkable time of 55.82 seconds. Her homecoming was celebrated with a grand hero's reception, a poignant contrast to the ridicule and challenges she faced in her earlier years.

Deepthi Jeevanji's journey to success

Deepthi Jeevanji’s journey to the Paralympics is a story of immense personal and athletic triumph. Born with an intellectual disability, Deepthi endured harsh mockery from her community, where she was derogatorily called ‘Monkey’ and ‘Mental.’ Her parents, Jeevanji Yadhagiri and Jeevanji Dhanalaxmi, were devastated by the cruel treatment. “People suggested we send our daughter to an orphanage due to her condition. She was born during a solar eclipse and had a small head with unusual features. They said terrible things, but today, she has proven her worth beyond their wildest expectations,” shared her mother, Dhanalaxmi.

Proud Moment for India

The reception Deepthi received at the airport emhasise the pride and admiration she has earned across the nation. Her story of overcoming immense odds to achieve Paralympic success captures the essence of resilience and determination. As Deepthi Jeevanji returns to a hero’s welcome, her achievement stands as a testament to her hard work and the growing recognition of para-athletes in India.

Take a look at the video: 

𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗕𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘀 ‘𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗸𝗲𝘆’ 𝗮𝗻𝗱 ‘𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹’ 𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗼𝗶𝗰 𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗛𝘆𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗮𝗱 𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁

Deepthi Jeevanji’s Paralympic Triumph

Once mocked as ‘Monkey’ and ‘Mental’ by her villagers, Deepthi Jeevanji received a heroic… pic.twitter.com/k5byD9zZqa

— Sudhakar Udumula (@sudhakarudumula) September 6, 2024

Deepthi's achievement in Paralympics

Despite the constant taunting, Deepthi’s resolve never wavered. Her persistence and hard work culminated in her bronze medal win at the Paris Paralympics, making her the 16th Indian athlete to secure a medal at this event. She finished behind Yuliia Shuliar from Ukraine and Aysel Onder of Turkey, the latter holding the world record in the event. This achievement follows her historic gold medal win at the World Athletics Para Championship in Kobe, Japan, where she made history as the first Indian to achieve such a feat.