All eyes on golden girl Lalitha

Visually challenged athlete Killaka Lalitha, wins gold in 400m event (T-11 category) and bronze in 1500m in the ongoing World Para Athletics Grand Prix in New Delhi

HYDERABAD: It takes one hour to reach her village Gummalakshmipuram near Parvathipuram (Andhra Pradesh) and that too only by walk. And, there was no communication system of
any sort, including phones when she grew up. Yet, C Killaka Lalitha, the visually challenged athlete, chose the hard way to race away to glory on the athletics tracks.
This outstanding athlete may be handicapped with vision but her feats have certainly made her the cynosure of all eyes! An impressive gold in 400m event (T-11 category) and also a bronze in the 1500m in the World Para Athletics Grand Prix in Delhi on Wednesday was just another reminder of her amazing never-say-die attitude despite all odds.
Born to tribal parents, who make a living as agricultural labour, Lalitha was first spotted in a district level sports meet by V Ramaswamy, himself a former National para medalist in badminton and now general secretary of AP Para Sports Association, in 2021 and she soon started making big strides. When she won the silver in the 2021 Para Nationals, SAI coach Rahul Balakrishna suggested she shift to 1500m for better results. And the spirited athlete didn’t disappoint the coaches winning 2022 Para Asiad silver in 1500m and later won two gold in the Para National athletics this February to continue her impressive run. With Tabres Khan, assisting her as a ‘guide’ runner, Lalitha had been a cynosure of sheer hard work, grit and determination. Interestingly, Lalitha chose to compete in the 400m event to ensure that she gets the flow in her first-choice event 1500m. “She is an amazing athlete with so much willpower. Never ever showed any inhibitions of her handicap. A role model for sure,” said Ramaswamy, who along with his President G Koteshwar Rao, have been making serious efforts to groom and promote young para athletes over the years.
And, importantly, ever since Lalitha moved over from Visakhapatnam Chinna Jeeyar Swami’s Nethra Vidyalaya three years ago to the same management’s institution in Hyderabad for higher studies, there has been a dramatic transformation with the authorities taking care of everything. In fact, it is not just Lalitha but about 150 other blind (some partially blind) too are beneficiaries from the Institution. The focus for Lalitha, a final year degree student, shifts to winning medals at the highest level and consistently too.

 

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