My journey has held every emotion, just like Ugadi pachadi: Jyothi Yarraji on resilience and comeback

For India’s hurdles queen, Jyothi Yarraji, the sharp scent of neem and the sweet tang of Ugadi pachadi are more than just seasonal traditions. They are the sensory anchors of a journey rooted in resilience.

This year, the festival carries a particular weight.

Following a grueling seven-month hiatus due to an injury, the Telugu New Year marks a quiet, pivotal fresh start for the reigning Asian champion as she recalibrates for a high-stakes comeback.From the humble kirana stores of Visakhapatnam to the starting blocks of the Paris Olympics, Jyothi embodies the resilience that Ugadi celebrates. Between training sessions at a training facility in Ulwe, Mumbai, she sat down with Hyderabad Times to reflect on the bitter and sweet phases of her journey, the discipline of her roots, and why this year’s celebrations feel like a homecoming in more ways than one.

‘The joy of Ugadi as a child is something I still carry’Reminiscing about her childhood in Vizag, Jyothi recalls a life that was simple but rich in discipline. “As a kid, the day would start with puja, and we would prepare special dishes like bobbatlu and Ugadi pachadi. There was always a sense of excitement, and I looked forward to wearing new clothes,” she shares.Yet for Jyothi, the excitement of a new dress or a handful of chocolates was always earned.

Her father worked as a security guard, and her mother, who earlier worked as a domestic help, ensured that every luxury was the result of effort. “When I was in school, my mother never handed me anything easily. If I asked for chocolates or a dress, she’d say, ‘Go work for it and buy it yourself.’ She used to send me to local kirana shops where I earned `50–60 a day.

That experience taught me the value of every rupee and the importance of hard work.

It made me independent and gave me the strength to fight for myself.”Now, with her athletic success, her perspective on the festival has evolved. “It’s been many years since I celebrated at home. I’ve mostly been training or competing during festivals, but I still make it a point to visit a temple, wear a sari, and seek blessings. I try to keep it simple and special in my own little way.”

‘If we manage every emotion, we move forward stronger’Drawing a parallel between the festival’s symbolism and her own career, Jyothi reflects on how those early lessons shaped her approach to modern setbacks.

“Ugadi pachadi combines six flavours: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, spicy, and tangy, each symbolising different experiences in life. I believe that if we can manage all these emotions, we can move forward stronger,” she says.That balance was put to the test recently. After clinching gold at the Asian Athletics Championships with a championship record of 12.96 seconds, her momentum was halted by a nasty injury during training, keeping her out of action for seven months.

Now back on the track, she is building towards a big 2026. “This year is important. The Asian Games and Commonwealth Games are the two major events I’m looking forward to. But I’m not rushing.

I want to recover fully and come back stronger.”

‘Back-to-back golds at Asian Athletics Championships proves I belong’From an early age, Jyothi knew she wanted to change her parents’ lives. She found her calling on the track and first grabbed attention in 2015 at an Andhra Pradesh inter-district meet.

From there, she became the first Indian woman to compete in the 100m hurdles at the Olympics during the 2024 Paris Games.She is also a two-time Asian Athletics champion, winning back-to-back gold medals in 2023 and 2025. “No Indian had ever won a gold medal in the 100m hurdles at the Asian Athletics Championships before I did it in 2023. To win again shows that I can be consistent,” the 26-year-old says. Her goal now is to ensure her parents can finally take it easy.

“They’ve spent their whole lives working hard and making sacrifices. I just want to give them a peaceful life.

”‘Even if you fail, you can always come back stronger’Jyothi’s journey is now an inspiration for young girls from small towns. She hopes her path can guide them: “You have to believe you’re made for this. People may support you, but they won’t face your pain or fight your battles. That’s up to you. Whether it’s sport, education, or dance, once you step in, tell yourself you belong there.”She emphasises that success rarely happens overnight. “Things might not work out immediately, sometimes not even for five or six years, but patience and self-belief are everything. Even if you fail, you can always come back stronger. Just keep moving forward.” -Biswajit Talukdar