Karnam Malleswari
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Women's Weightlifting | ||
Representing  India | ||
| Olympic Games | ||
| Bronze | 2000 Sydney | Weightlifting at the 2000 Summer Olympics |
| Asian Games | ||
| Silver | 1998 Asian Games | 1998 Bangkok |
Karnam Malleswari (born June 1, 1975, in Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh) is an Indian weightlifter.[1] During her ten years career, she has won 11 gold and three silver medals besides the prestigious Olympic bronze. She has been the National Champion for nine years (twice in the 52 kg category and seven times in the 54 kg category).
Early career
Malleshwari participated in the 'National Junior weight lifting championship', and stood first. In 1992, she participated in the Asian championship which took place in Thailand, and won three silver medals. She also won three bronze medals in the world championship. She won a bronze medal in the 2000 Summer Olympics at Sydney lifting for of 240 kg, which made her the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal.[2] She is a recipient of the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award, India's highest sporting honour for the year 1995-1996. She is also a recipient of the civilian honour Padma Shri in 1999. Malleswari is awarded the Arjuna Award in 1994, India's second highest award in sports.
In 1995, Malleswari won the world weightlifting title with a new record, by lifting 113.0 kg in the clean and jerk. Malleswari, who went on to win the contest's gold medal, beat the previous record of 112.5 kg set by China's Long Yuling in December 1993. She also won the 1995 Asian championship. Malleswari was married in 1997, and moved to Yamuna Nagar short break from competitive weight-lifting and returned to participate in the Bangkok Asian Games in 1998. She broke her own records in the Senior National Weightlifting Championship in 1998, and India's first medal, a weightlifting silver, in the 1998 Asian Games.
Personal life
Malleswari married in 1997, and moved to Yamuna Nagar short break from competitive weight-lifting and returned to participate in the Bangkok Asian Games in 1998, and won the silver medal. she won the bronze medal in 2000. She spent some of her childhood in Donakonda.
References
- ↑ India’s 50 Most Illustrious Women (ISBN 81-88086-19-3) by Indra Gupta
- ↑ Time (Dec 27, 2000). "'I Did What I Could For My Country'".
External links
| Preceded by Cdr. Homi D. Motivala and Lt. Cdr. P. K. Garg |
Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna 1995/1996 |
Succeeded by Leander Paes and Nameirakpam Kunjarani |