Blind Athletes Run with Guides

Rakshitha Raju, a 24-year-old blind athlete from India, has defied societal expectations to become one of the country's top para-athletes in middle-distance running. Born blind in a remote village and orphaned at a young age, Rakshitha's journey to success has been remarkable.

Rakshitha competes with the assistance of a guide runner, Rahul Balakrishna, who runs alongside her connected by a tether. This partnership has led to gold medals at the Asian Games and participation in the Paralympics. Rahul's role is crucial, alerting Rakshitha to curves, competitors, and other race dynamics.

The article also highlights Simran Sharma, another visually impaired Indian athlete who, with her guide Abhay Kumar, won a bronze medal in the 200m race at the 2024 Paralympics in Paris. This achievement marks a significant milestone as Simran became the first Indian woman with a visual impairment to win a Paralympic medal.

Despite these successes, challenges remain. Guide runners like Rahul and Abhay lack official support and recognition from sports authorities, relying on the athletes they guide for compensation. Nevertheless, these partnerships continue to inspire and pave the way for more visually impaired individuals in India to pursue sports.