Gandra Jyothi Becomes One of the Few Telugu Women to Complete All Six Major World Marathons
Hyderabad: Gandra Jyothi, the Bhupalpally district president of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and former Warangal Rural Zilla Parishad (ZP) chairperson, has made history. She recently completed the Tokyo Marathon on March 2, making her one of the few Telugu women to finish all six major world marathons. Her achievement proves that age and responsibilities are no barriers to personal goals.
At 56 years old, Ms. Jyothi’s journey is truly inspiring. She started long-distance running in 2016 with the Vizag Marathon, where she completed her first half-marathon at the age of 46. Initially, she took up running to stay fit, but it soon became her passion. Over the years, she participated in the Berlin Marathon in 2018, followed by the Chicago and Boston Marathons in 2019. She also ran in the New York Marathon later that same year.
She initially planned to complete all six marathons by 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic and her political responsibilities delayed her goal. However, she resumed her journey with the London Marathon in 2022 and finally completed the challenge in 2025 with the Tokyo Marathon.
Running the Tokyo Marathon was particularly tough for Ms. Jyothi, as she had a fever the night before the race. Despite feeling unwell, she managed to finish the 42-km marathon in six hours. “I was worried I wouldn’t be able to complete it, but by God’s grace, I managed to finish,” she shared.
Ms. Jyothi’s dedication to fitness comes from personal experience. She was diagnosed with thyroid problems at the age of 23, which motivated her to stay active through walking, jogging, and yoga. After moving from Hanamkonda to Hyderabad, she joined the KBR Marathon Club, where she trained in trekking and long-distance running. She soon began participating in national marathons in Mumbai and Hyderabad before setting her sights on international races.
Despite her busy political career, Ms. Jyothi remains committed to promoting fitness. Along with her husband, three-time MLA Gandra Venkataramana Reddy, she has organized marathon events like the Bhupalpally Run-2022 to encourage health and wellness in the Warangal region.
Now, with the prestigious Abbott World Marathon Majors medal in her collection, Ms. Jyothi is looking ahead. She not only plans to take on new personal challenges but also wants to build a strong running community in Telangana. “I hope to continue this journey and contribute to the running community by organizing marathons,” she said, hoping to inspire more people to embrace fitness, no matter their age or background.
