Jayanti Behera

As a young child aged just one, Jayanti went inside a brick kiln lit with fire. Her mother dragged her out immediately; however, the left side of the upper body had already suffered severe burns, causing her permanent damage. Jayanti showed a keen interest in running from a young age, and this interest turned into a passion soon later. She won three gold medals at the 16th Para-athletics National Championship at Panchkula, Haryana in 2016 and became the best sportswoman of the championship while also breaking the Asian record (unofficially) in the 400m track event. Competing in her first international competition at the 2017 China Open Para Athletics Championship in May, Jayanti won the gold medal in 400m and registered the qualifying mark for the 2017 IPC World Para Athletics Championships. She also won silver in 200m at the same competition. Owing to her sporting exploits, she was christened the ‘Sakhigopal Express’. In the year 2022, at the Para Athletics National Championship, Jayanti was awarded with the Best Female Athlete of the Championship award. She is sure to continue making strides in her sport.

• Sport Athletics - 200m, 400m and 800m (T-47)
• Hometown Sakhigopal, Odisha
• Current Training Base Gurukul Athletics Training Center, Odisha