JP Dhanyadha: Cycling Toward Indian Olympic Glory

JP Dhanyadha, hailing from Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, has emerged as a rising star in the world of cycling. She secured a silver medal in the 2-km individual pursuit event at the Junior Asian Track Championships in Malaysia. This achievement marked the first international medal in track cycling for an Indian athlete.

Dhanyadha’s remarkable performance shattered the national record in the 2-km individual pursuit category, clocking an impressive time of 2 minutes and 28 seconds. Encouraged by her success, she’s now competing at the Trinbago 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad and Tobago. Her coach, Anil Kumar, is optimistic about her performance, praising her strength and dedication.

While Dhanyadha faced disappointment by narrowly missing out on two more medals in the Malaysian tournament, she remains focused on her goals. Inspired by world champions like Filippo Ganna and Chloé Dygert, Dhanyadha is determined to achieve Olympic glory. She is a part of the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) and aims to secure a medal for India at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, with an eye on the 2032 Brisbane Olympics as well.

With her eyes set on breaking barriers and making history, Dhanyadha aspires to become the first Indian cyclist to bring home an Olympic medal.
Re-reported from the article originally published in South First