Indian hurdler Jyothi Yarraji scripted history by becoming Asia’s fastest women’s 100m hurdler, clinching the gold medal at the Asian Athletics Championships with a record-breaking time of 12.96 seconds.

The Visakhapatnam-born athlete reaffirmed her dominance on the continental stage, producing a powerful late surge to outclass Japan’s Yumi Tanaka and China’s Wu Yanni, who finished behind her in the final.

Jyothi’s emphatic victory not only secured the top podium finish but also underlined her growing stature as the undisputed leader of women’s hurdling in Asia. The championship record performance drew widespread praise from coaches and athletics experts across the region.

Raised in a financially constrained household in Andhra Pradesh, Jyothi’s journey has been marked by resilience and determination. From training with borrowed spikes to standing atop the continental podium, her rise reflects the broader transformation of Indian women’s athletics.

Officials from the Athletics Federation of India hailed the achievement as a landmark moment, calling it an inspiration for young athletes across the country.

With this triumph, Jyothi Yarraji has further strengthened India’s position in Asian athletics and set her sights on upcoming global competitions, where she is expected to be a strong medal contender.