Karnam Malleswari Birth Day 1 June, First Indian Woman To Win Olympic Medal

Karnam Malleswari holds the distinction of being the first Indian Woman to win a medal at the Olympics. Karnam Malleswari is associated withweightlifting.  K Malleswari was born on 1 June 1975 at Voosavanipeta, Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh, India. Even before her Olympic win, K Malleswari remained the two-time weightlifting world champion with 29 international medals, which includes 11 gold medals.

Malleswari started her career at the tender age of 12 years. Her trainer was Neelamshetty Appanna. Malleswari was spotted by Sports Authority of India. In 1990, Malleswari joined the national camp and four years later, she became the weight-lifting world championship winner in the 54-kg class.

Karnam Malleswari Olympic Medal

She represented India at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 and won a Bronze medal in the 69 kg group. She was coached by Leonid Taranenko.  In her long and illustrious career she won many laurels which included Bronze medal at the World Championships at Melbourne in 1993 where she secured the third place in the 54 kg section. Again at the World Championships at in Istanbul in 1994 she secured the first place in the 54 kg section. She again clinched the first place in the World Championships at Guangzhou in 1995 in the 54 kg section.

Karnam Malleswari also won two Silver medals in weightlifting- First in 1994 Hiroshima Asian Games in the 54 kg section and another in the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games in the 63 kg section. Karnam has also received many awards which includes the Arjuna Award in 1994, and Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award, in 1999. She also received the Padma Shri Award in 1999.

Karnam Malleswari Retired In 2004

Karnam Malleswari tied knots with fellow weightlifter Rajesh Tyagi In 1997. She became a mother one year post her winning the Olympic bronze medal in her sport. Karnam tried to return to weightlifting but fate ordained otherwise and she was not able to return to the ring. Karnam Malleswari husband weightlifter Rajesh Tyagi now lives in Yamunanagar, Haryana, with their son and in-laws in a joint family. Karnam is employed with the Food Corporation of India as Chief General Manager (General Administration).