New Delhi: India’s campaign at the World Para Athletics Championships kicked off on a high note for sprinter Deepthi Jeevanji. The 22-year-old from Telangana qualified for the final of the women’s 400m T20 event with a season-best performance on Friday. Jeevanji clocked 58.35 seconds to top the second heat in the opening round, earning her place in the medal round.

Jeevanji’s timing was enough to secure one of the automatic spots as the top three athletes from each heat, along with the next two fastest, advanced to the final. In Heat 2, alongside her Diana Vivenes of the Dominican Republic (59.41s) and Australia’s Telaya Blacksmith (1:00.10) also made the cut. Additional qualifiers on time included Ecuador’s Mayerli Minda (58.98s) and Portugal’s Carina Paim (59.61s).

Heat 1 featured the

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