The warm-up area of the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi has hundreds of athletes coming in for practice every afternoon, but none of them are like Jyoti Maggu. ?I am the only visually-challenged girl who comes here,? Maggu, dressed athletically in her red track pants and shades, tells you.

Indeed, there are few like Maggu anywhere. Currently the national champion in numerous athletics events for the blind, Maggu has represented India in the International Blind Sports Association Games in Quebec, Canada, and is the sports president and athletics captain of Lady Shri Ram College, where she is in her third year of BA in journalism.

Maggu?s is an amazing story of courage and tenacity. She now believes her blindness is her strength instead of her disability. She?s 95 per cent blind, and with the five per cent vision that she has left, she can recognise colours, and barely make out silhouettes of people. But Maggu has decided that her impairment will not hold her back in any way. ?I use public transport to travel now, and I run with sighted people in inter-college competitions,? the 23-year-old reveals.

But there was a time in Maggu?s life when everything seemed dark. During her early years at the Bluebell?s International School, she was the achiever who did well in class and carried away all the trophies on Sports Days. Her eyesight started failing when she was in Class VI, and got worse with every passing day. ?I would use a magnifying glass to read, but mathematics and diagrams were extremely difficult,? she says.

Her doctor advised her to discontinue studies. For three years, Maggu would feel her way around the house, and would not even go out because she was afraid. She lives in Tagore Garden in West Delhi with her parents, who own a tobacco wholesale shop, and her two sisters and brother. ?The doctor told me it was a hereditary problem. But no one in my near family has ever had it,? she says.

One day, she decided that she would go back to school. She consulted another doctor who said she could resume her studies, and she joined in Class VIII at Bluebell?s. But because she was not visually-impaired from birth, she didn?t know Braille. However, she found an angel in the National Association for the Blind, where she would go after school, and they would teach her the subjects that she couldn?t grasp in class.

Maggu secured 73 per cent marks in her higher secondary examinations, and found a place in the BA (Journalism) course in LSR. She?s aware that journalism is a tough profession, but like everything else that she?s overcome, she is sure she will make a great sports journalist, and wants to work for a news channel. ?I?m sure I have capabilities,? she says, confidently.

It was her confidence that prompted her to try athletics in college. Until then, Maggu hadn?t given sports a thought. In college, students are required to be a member of the NCC, NSS or NSO, or else, take up sports actively. Maggu decided on the last option, mainly because her sports teacher advised her to do yoga instead. ?The fact that people think I?m incapable of certain things makes me more determined to achieve them,? she says.

Confidence rewarded

Within a month of her training in sports, Maggu decided to participate in Delhi?s inter-college sports meet. But that would have required her to run among sighted people. The sports authorities of her college did permit her to participate in one event but she was given the first lane where it was likely that she would step outside her area and be disqualified.

To everyone?s delight, she came fifth. That also made her coach, S.S. Rai, realise that she had more potential than he had imagined. A fortnight later, in January 2003, Maggu participated in a sports meet for the visually challenged organised by Daulat Ram College and walked away with seven medals and the Best Athlete award.

February saw the trials for the Quebec games and Maggu didn?t disappoint here either. She participated in three events ? the 100 metres, 200 metres and the 400 metres races, and won all of them at the trials. At the Quebec games, though, she couldn?t come back with a medal; she was disqualified for stepping into another lane for the 400 metre event. ?But I?m grateful to the Blind Relief Association (BRA) and my college for making my trip possible,? says Maggu,

But she?s confident that she won?t disappoint them next time. Maggu has a variety of activities in her resume: she is also a university swimming champion in the 50 metres freestyle category, and, at 19, had even walked the ramp for a fashion show by designer Ritu Beri.

The 2005 Paralympics at Manchester, England, are what she?s aiming for right now. But what she wants to be recognised as most is a normal girl.?I don?t see myself as different,? says the champion.