With grit and grace, hurdler Shreeya chases new heights

Bengaluru

Shreeya Rajesh has quickly climbed the ranks in national athletics, emerging as a strong contender in hurdles. After winning a bronze medal at the Asian Championships in 2024 in the under-20 category, she is now aiming to break into the top tier of the senior national circuit. While athletics remains her primary focus, her growing presence on Instagram has also made her a budding content creator. Recalling her bronze medal at the Asian Championships, Shreeya said she had a strong qualifying round where she finished first and clocked under 60 seconds, boosting her confidence heading into the finals in Dubai.

“I felt confident going into the finals, but it was also very nerve-wracking,” she said. Competing internationally, however, was a completely new experience for her. “Being at an international event was surreal. They put us up in a nice hotel, and wearing India’s colours was just incredible. Everything happened at the right time for me to be there,” she added. That moment marked a milestone in a journey that began in a school gym in the United States, where a coach set up foam hurdles to identify potential talent and spotted her ability early. After returning to India in Class 8 following three years abroad, she drifted away from athletics for a while.

It was her mother who encouraged her to get back into fitness. Though she initially followed an irregular routine, things changed during the pandemic, when she used the time to become, in her words, “super fit”, training at home with a programme designed by her coach. Currently she is being coached by Bindu Rani Gowda, someone who has achieved a great deal in her career. Having competed primarily in the 400 metre hurdles since the start of her career, Shreeya is now exploring the 100 metre hurdles to expand her skill set.

“It’s completely different from the 400 metre hurdles. That event is about maintaining rhythm throughout the race. But in the 100 hurdles, it’s ten hurdles within 100 metres, you're jumping every few metres. I’m really excited and have been enjoying learning something new,” she said. Beyond the track, Shreeya enjoys sports that involve constant movement, such as basketball and football. A proud Bengalurean, she says the city remains close to her heart. “This is my home. I’ve grown up here. After coming back from the US, it felt amazing to be around familiar faces,” she said, while admitting that dealing with the city’s traffic remains a challenge.

Her entry into content creation came through fellow athlete and creator Neole Cornelio. “We collaborated on a reel, and I started gaining followers. I realised I could just document what I do and share it. Over the last few months, I’ve been quite consistent,” she said. With several national tournaments ahead, Shreeya is focused on sharpening her 100 metre hurdles skills as she prepares to compete at Kanteerava Stadium, aiming to put her new learnings into action.