Blind Athletes Run with Guides

Rakshitha Raju, a 24-year-old blind athlete from India, has become one of the country's top para-athletes. She runs with a guide runner named Rahul Balakrishna, who helps her navigate the track.

Rakshitha and Rahul are connected by a tether, a short strap that they both hold. Rahul alerts Rakshitha about curves and other runners during races. They have won gold medals at the Asian Games and competed in the Paralympics.

Another visually impaired athlete, Simran Sharma, also uses a guide runner. Simran and her guide, Abhay Kumar, won a bronze medal at the 2024 Paralympics in Paris. This success is inspiring more visually impaired people in India to consider sports as a possibility.