Bhubaneswar, May 13 (PTI) An academically-inclined child is a dream realised in most Indian households and that’s why Olympic-bound runner Jyothika Sri Dandi aspired to be a doctor before she realised that her father would be happier seeing her excel in sports.

The 23-year-old from Tanuku town in West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh, secured 97 per cent in Class X while studying at the Montessori School at her home town.

But, her father Srinivasa Rao, a body-builder in his younger days, nudged her into taking interest in sports as he wanted to see her in the Olympics some day. That dream is going to be a reality in less than three months’ time.

Jyothika was part of the Indian women’s 4x400m relay team that qualified for the Paris Olympics during the World Relays in Bahamas earlier this month.

“I got 97 per cent in class X and when I was in school I actually wanted to be a doctor. But, once I started doing sports, I could not go back and think about becoming a doctor,” Jyothika, who is taking part in the Federation Cup here, told

Source: PTI News