Rakshitha Raju

Rakshitha Raju, (born 2002) a visually challenged runner from India, is a para athlete from Chikkamagalur in Karnataka. She takes part in the women's 1500 metres T11 category. She was selected for the Indian team that took part in the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Para Games. She won the gold medal Asian Para Games behind China's Shanshan He. Later, Shanshan was disqualified and Raju was promoted to take the gold medal. She clocked 5 minutes, 21.45 seconds. Being a visually handicapped runner, Rakshitha completed the race with the help of a guide Rahul Balakrishna.

Background and early life
Rakshitha hails from Baluguddanahalli village in Chikkamagaluru district. She was a student of Asha Kirana Andha Makkala Shale (Blind School) in Chikkamagaluru. She learnt her basics under coach and mentor Balakrishna, who is also her guide runner. She was introduced to Balakrishna by her initial guide runner Sowmya Asha Kirana school. She lost both her parents at an early age and was brought up by her grandmother, who was dumb and deaf. She was a product of the Sports Authority of India, Bengaluru. Rahul was her first coach.

Career

 * In July 2023, she took part in the 1500m at the Para Athletics World Championships.
 * In 2021, she won a bronze medal in the 1500m event at World Para Athletics Grand Prix 2021 in Dubai.
 * In 2019, she won a bronze medal in the 1500m event clocking a personal best of 5.29.00 at the World Para Athletics Grand Prix Paris.
 * In 2019, she also won a gold medal in the 1500m and 800m events at the World Para Athletics Junior Championships, Nottwil, Switzerland.
 * In 2018, she won a gold medal in the 1500m event at the Asian Para Games, Jakarta.
 * In 2017, she was selected for the Youth Asian Games but could not travel due to passport issues. However, in 2018 she won the Gold in the 1500m event at the Asian Para Games.

Domestic career

 * In 2022, she won a gold medal in the 200m, 400m and 1500m events at the 20th National Para Athletics Championships, Odisha.
 * Gold Medal in the 400m and 1500m events at the 19th National Para Athletics Championships, Bengaluru, 2021.