In an inspiring turn of events, today, on October 25th, Lalitha Killaka, a visually challenged athlete from a remote tribal area in India, emerged victorious at the Asian Para Games held in Hangzhou, China. She secured the silver medal in the fiercely competitive 1500-meter running event, bringing honor to her nation and earning a standing ovation from the world.

Lalitha commenced her educational journey at Netra Vidyalaya, Varija, in the first grade in 2013 and continued her studies there until her tenth-grade graduation in 2020. Currently, she is in her second year of studies at Netra Vidyalaya pursuing a degree.

Lalitha’s incredible achievement is a testament to her sheer grit, determination, and hard work, and her journey to this historic moment is nothing short of remarkable.

” Lalitha Killaka received congratulations from our Honorable Prime Minister of India, Sriman Narendra Modi “


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In Lalitha's own words

“Before the race, I was confident that I would win the medal for my Nethra Vidyalaya and my country. This thought, along with memories of the encouragement throughout my journey from Nethra Vidyalaya, was on my mind while running the race. I owe the accomplishment to Swamiji’s Daya (the compassion of Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji) and the support from you.”

Hailing from a tribal area where poverty was a constant companion, Lalitha and her family faced hardships that most can only imagine. They could not afford to have a meal of rice every day and relied on a single daily meal. Her parents, daily wage workers in the fields, worked tirelessly to make ends meet. Adding to their woes, their daughter Lalitha was born visually challenged.

PRESS NOTE

Netra vidyalaya is very proud to share the victory of Killaka Lalitha our student, who made country proud with her accomplishment in para Asian games going on in China.
She bagged silver medal for 1500mts running. With strong and dedicated efforts from past 7 years.
K Lalitha is daughter of K Borja and Chitamma farmers who have 4 children and hail in Gummalakshmipuram Vizianagaram.
She started her journey with school when she joined 4th class, a very innocent girl who was not at all willing to stay back at school but now she has become a very strong aspirant lady with teaching and training of all her teachers.
Our students used to participate in various district,state level sports competitions, looking at her and some other students extraordinary talent in that particular sport, we sent them to New Delhi IBSA ,for training in 2017 from that time till now she is in training at different places and different levels participating in all prestigious events .
Para sports association Andhrapradesh selected her for training and giving her training from past 2 years in Banglore.
All her Perseverance to do something great made her win today.
She proved that disability is not a obstacle for success, Thank you to all who supported and blessed her to reach heights.
With regards
Shireesha Latha
Secretary/Correspondent

Amidst these challenging circumstances, Nethra Vidyalaya, the School and college for the Visually Challenged, founded by Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji, played a pivotal role in Lalitha’s life. This institution not only provided her with education but also offered boarding, meals, and the training required to hone her athletic skills from a young age. With the support of Nethra Vidyalaya, Lalitha was given a chance to dream, and she seized this opportunity with unshakable resolve.

Nethra Vidyalaya and VT Seva, VtsBharath founder Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji expressed happiness and announced a prize money of 300,000 for Ms. Killaka Lalitha and 50,000 Indian rupees for her guide runner Mr. Tabres Khan.
He said, ‘A person is not disabled solely because of being physically handicapped. A person is considered disabled only if they lack mental resilience and the ability to overcome challenges. This fact was demonstrated by our Nethra Vidyalaya students in cricket a few months ago in England and is now exemplified by Lalitha in her running performance at the Asian Para Games held in China. We strongly believe that these accomplishments will inspire many youngsters to achieve greatness in their lives. Credit for these achievements goes to the supporters and donors from all over the world who are the fuel behind the fire for the excellence of Nethra Vidyalaya students.’

The peak of her journey came when she earned the opportunity to represent India at the Asian Para Games. Lalitha’s story transcended borders as she participated in the trials in Morocco, competing against some of the world’s best para-athletes. Her unwavering dedication and training paid off as she secured her spot on the Indian team.

Today, in Hangzhou, China, Lalitha’s journey reached its zenith as she crossed the finish line in the 1500-meter running event, clinching the silver medal. Her victory was not only a personal triumph but also a victory for all those who supported her along the way.

India, with its largest-ever contingent of 303 athletes, stands united in celebrating Lalitha’s remarkable achievement. This victory is not only for India, with its 1.4 billion population but for the entire world. Her story is a shining example of what can be accomplished with determination, perseverance, and an unbreakable spirit. Lalitha Killaka, the girl who once struggled to have a meal each day, has now become an inspiration to all, proving that it is possible to rise above adversity and reach for the stars.

VTS Bharath , VTSeva has been a proud supporter of Nethra Vidyalaya . We thank each and every volunteer and donor of VT Seva and VTSBharath for your support in making this possible. Your support is our strength to serve!