Prime Minister Narendra Modi felicitating para athlete V Radha Venkatesh in New Delhi (File photo)
Chitradurga: International para athlete V Radha, 27, from Bommasamudra village in Challakere taluk, has been selected to represent India in the 1,500m event at the Para Athletics Games in Japan from Oct 17 to 26. She has won 16 gold medals at national para-athletics events and specialises in the 400m and 1,500m events. Radha, who is partially visually impaired, is ranked second in Asia and ninth in the world.
The daughter of farmers Venkatesh and Sujatha, Radha became the first Indian woman to win two medals at the Asian Para Games, bagging silver and bronze in 2018. She struck gold at the 2023 Asian Para Games and was subsequently felicitated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi , who also praised her achievement on X. Radha won gold at the 2024 national meet in Chennai, silver at the 2025 World Para Games in New Delhi, and silver and bronze at the 2026 Indian Open International Games in Bengaluru. Sports Authority of India coach Rahul Balakrishna spotted Radha’s talent at a national meet and brought her to Bengaluru in 2017 for professional training. He said she had undergone disciplined and intensive training for the Japan event and was also gearing up for the 2028 Paralympics. She completed her primary education while staying with her grandmother in Kamasamudra, studied from Class 8 to II PUC in Chikkamagaluru, and earned a BA from a govt first-grade college in KR Puram, Bengaluru. I’m also preparing for the 2028 Paralympics. – V Radha | Para-athlete Stay updated with the latest Hubballi news.
Radha studied at Ashakirana School for the Blind in Chikkamagaluru. Karnataka govt appointed her to a govt post three years ago in recognition of her sporting achievements. She currently works with the labour department in Bengaluru. Her honours include the Karnataka govt’s Ekalavya Award, Karnataka Women’s Award, Swami Vivekananda Award from the department of collegiate education, NFB Excellence Award and Young Achiever Award. Quote: I’m delighted to have been selected for the Para Games in Japan. I’m confident I’ll win a medal there and will do my best. Download the TOI App.