Odisha, Bhubaneshwar- Asian champion hurdler Jyothi Yarraji, a prominent name in Indian athletics, has undergone successful surgery for an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) tear in her right knee. The 100m hurdles gold medalist, who secured her Asian Championships title with a time of 12.96 seconds, confirmed the news on Sunday, bringing a halt to her competitive season and raising concerns about her participation in major upcoming events.
The Injury and the Procedure
Yarraji sustained the unfortunate injury during a training session, a common occurrence in high-impact, agility-demanding sports like hurdling. An ACL tear is a significant knee injury that can severely impact an athlete’s career, requiring extensive rehabilitation. She underwent surgery this past Friday, performed by renowned sports surgeon Dr.5 Dinshaw Pardiwala. Dr. Pardiwala is a highly respected orthopedic surgeon in India, known for his expertise in arthroscopy and sports medicine, having treated numerous top athletes. The successful surgery is a crucial first step in her recovery journey.
The Road Ahead: A Challenging Rehabilitation
“The past few weeks have been tough for me, as this injury has stopped me from doing what I love the most,” shared Yarraji on Instagram, expressing the emotional toll such an injury takes on an athlete. The recovery from an ACL reconstruction is a long and arduous process, typically spanning 8 to 12 months, or sometimes even longer, before a full return to high-level sport is possible. For a hurdler, whose sport demands explosive power, precise coordination, and significant knee flexion and extension, the rehabilitation will be particularly challenging.
The recovery generally follows several phases:
- Initial Healing (Weeks 1-6): Focus on reducing swelling and pain, restoring full knee extension, and gentle quadriceps activation. Crutches and a brace are often used in the early stages.
- Building Strength and Function (Weeks 6-12 onwards): Progressing to regaining full range of motion, normalizing walking patterns, and beginning progressive strengthening exercises for quads, hamstrings, and glutes. Balance and proprioception training are also crucial during this phase.
- Return to Running and Agility (Months 3-6 onwards): Gradually introducing impact activities, running, and developing proper landing mechanics. This phase progresses to more sport-specific drills.
- Sport-Specific Training and Return to Play (Months 9-12+): Achieving strength and hop-testing symmetry (often >90% of the uninjured side), building confidence in sport-specific movements, and gradually integrating into controlled practice.
Rushing the return is a significant risk factor for re-injury, with studies suggesting that delaying return to sport beyond 9 months can lower the risk of a second ACL tear.
Impact on World Championships and Olympic Hopes
This injury means Yarraji is now unlikely to feature in the World Championships later this year, which typically has an August 24 deadline for qualification.9 She was still in contention for a spot via ranking, being 12th among eligible athletes through the quota, but her inability to compete in more events to maintain her position makes participation highly improbable.
While an ACL tear is a significant setback, modern medicine and advanced rehabilitation techniques mean it is rarely a career-ending injury for elite athletes. Many athletes not only return to their previous levels but sometimes even exceed them post-injury. However, the path back demands immense patience, discipline, and mental resilience.
The athletic community will undoubtedly rally behind Jyothi Yarraji as she embarks on this challenging recovery, hoping to see the Asian champion back on the track, soaring over hurdles, stronger than ever.
Discussion about this post