Rakshitha Raju: First Indian Woman in Paralympics 1500m T-11 Category
Rakshitha Raju, a visually impaired athlete from Chikkamagaluru, Karnataka, has been selected for the 2024 Paralympics. She will compete in the Women’s 1500m Running T-11 Category, making history as the first Indian female athlete in this category.
Early Life and Challenges
Born with a visual impairment, Rakshitha lost her parents at a young age and was raised by her grandmother, who has a speech and hearing impairment. Her passion for athletics began at Ashakirana School for the Blind, guided by her physical education teacher.
Career and Achievements
Rakshitha’s athletic career includes numerous national and international accolades. She won a gold medal in the Women’s 1500m-T11 at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Para Games, earning praise from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Paralympics 2024
At the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, India sent 54 athletes, including 14 women. For the Paris Paralympics, the number has grown to 84 athletes, with 32 women, making it India’s largest contingent ever. The games will take place from August 28 to September 8, 2024.
Quote from Rakshitha Raju
Rakshitha Raju said, “I am incredibly honoured and excited to represent India at the Paris Paralympics. This journey has been filled with challenges, but each step has brought me closer to my dream. I am grateful to CBM India for their unwavering support and belief in my talent. Their encouragement has been instrumental in my preparation, and I hope to inspire others to pursue their dreams.”
Doubts Revealed
Paralympics -: The Paralympics are a major international sports event for athletes with disabilities. They happen right after the Olympics.
1500m T-11 Category -: This is a running race for athletes who are visually impaired. T-11 means the athletes have very little or no vision.
Visually impaired -: This means that a person has difficulty seeing, even with glasses, or cannot see at all.
Karnataka -: Karnataka is a state in the southern part of India. Its capital is Bengaluru.
Ashakirana School for the Blind -: This is a special school in Karnataka that helps children who cannot see to learn and grow.
Hangzhou Asian Para Games -: This is a sports event for athletes with disabilities from Asia. It was held in Hangzhou, China.
Contingent -: A contingent is a group of people representing a country or organization at an event.
