Rakshitha Raju

athlete

Rakshitha Raju is a pioneering blind Indian athlete, born in a remote village in southern India. At the age of 24, she became the first blind Indian woman to compete in the 1500m at the Paralympics. Raised by her hearing and speech-impaired grandmother after losing both parents, Rakshitha overcame societal stigma and personal challenges to pursue athletics. With the guidance of her coach and guide runner, Rahul Balakrishna, she has achieved significant success, including gold medals at the Asian Games. Rakshitha's journey inspires many, as she aims to be a role model for other disabled individuals in her community.