Karnam Malleswari facts for kids
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| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | 1 June 1975 Voosavanipeta, Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh, India |
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| Residence | Yamunanagar, Haryana, India | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 163 cm | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Country | India | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Weightlifting | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coached by | Leonid Taranenko | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Karnam Malleswari, born on June 1, 1975, is a famous Indian weightlifter. She made history by becoming the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal in 2000. She has received many top awards, including the Arjuna Award (1994), the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna (1999), and the Padma Shri (1999). The Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna is India's highest award for sports.
Contents
A Champion's Journey in Weightlifting
Karnam Malleswari was a world champion in weightlifting. She won gold medals in the 54 kg category in 1994 and 1995. She also earned bronze medals in 1993 and 1996.
World Championships and Asian Games Success
In 1994, she won a silver medal at the World Championships in Istanbul. The next year, she won the Asian Weightlifting Championships in Korea. She also set a record in China, lifting 113 kg at the World Championships. Before her Olympic win, Malleswari had already won 29 international medals. This impressive collection included 11 gold medals.
Olympic Glory in Sydney
At the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Malleswari lifted a total of 240 kg. She lifted 110 kg in the "snatch" part of the competition. Then, she lifted 130 kg in the "clean and jerk" part. She won the bronze medal, making her the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal. She was also the first Indian weightlifter, male or female, to achieve this. Her medal was the only one India won at the 2000 Olympics.
Karnam Malleswari's Early Life and Family
Malleswari was born into a Telugu Brahmin family in Srikakulam, India. She has four sisters, who are all married and settled.
Starting Young and Training Hard
Malleswari began her weightlifting journey at just 12 years old. Her first coach was Neelamshetty Appanna. She later moved to Delhi for better training opportunities. This move happened when her talent became clear. The Sports Authority of India soon noticed her skills. In 1990, Malleswari joined the national training camp. Just four years later, she became a world champion.
Family Life and Retirement
In 1997, Malleswari married Rajesh Tyagi, who was also a weightlifter. In 2001, a year after her Olympic win, she became a mother to a son. She had planned to compete again at the 2002 Commonwealth Games. However, she had to withdraw due to a sad family event. She officially retired after the 2004 Olympics. Today, Karnam Malleswari and Rajesh Tyagi live in Yamunanagar, Haryana. They live with their son and in-laws in a joint family. She works as a Chief General Manager at the Food Corporation of India.
In June 2021, she was chosen for an important role. She became the vice-chancellor of the Sports University. This university was set up by the government of Delhi.
Awards and Recognitions
Karnam Malleswari has received several prestigious awards for her achievements:
- She was honored with the Arjuna Award in 1994.
- She received the Padma Shri Award in 1999.
- She was also given the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award in 1999.
