A podium reshuffle in the women's 1500m T11 event saw Ravanni Valasanani secure the bronze medal after compatriot Rakshitha Raju was disqualified despite initially crossing the line in third place, according to reporting by Times of India — Top Stories.
Raju had initially registered a faster time to finish in the top three of the race, but an official disqualification negated her result. The decision cleared the path for Valasanani to claim the third-place podium spot. China dominated the competition, securing both the gold and silver medals in the event.
Disqualification Shifts the T11 Podium
The 1500m T11 track race, designated for athletes with severe visual impairments who compete with running guides, concluded with an unexpected shift in final standings. While Raju crossed the finish line ahead of Valasanani, race officials enforced the disqualification, voiding Raju's placement and advancing Valasanani into medal contention. Specific infractions leading to the ruling were not immediately detailed in initial competition notices.
China's contingent maintained control of the front of the pack throughout the race, locking out the top two positions before the Indian team secured the remaining podium place following the official review.
India Secures Track and Field Haul
Despite the setback for Raju, the competition marked a successful outing for Indian competitors across several other classifications. National athletes celebrated a strong day on the track and in the field, earning top honors across multiple events.
Key highlights included gold and silver accolades in the women's 1500m T12/T13 category, reinforcing the team's distance-running strength. In field competitions, Indian athletes also captured both gold and silver medals in the men's javelin throw F46 event, cementing a series of top finishes.
