In 1993, Karnam Malleswari left the world astonished when she clinched a podium finish at the prestigious World Weightlifting Championships, proving that she was a force to be reckoned with. Her journey of triumph continued, with a silver medal at the 1994 World Championships in Istanbul. At the tender age of 12, Karnam embarked on her weightlifting journey in a humble thatched hut, under the guidance of her coach, Neelamshetty Appanna. At first glance, she may not have appeared as the typical weightlifter, but Karnam’s determination and dedication soon shattered any preconceived notions.
Achievements
Her achievements earned her numerous prestigious awards, including the Arjuna Award in 1994, the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna in 1999, and the Padma Shri in the same year. Karnam Malleswari is the first Indian woman to ever win an Olympic medal (bronze). If there is one biopic that should definitely be made, then it is Malleswari’s. Born in a small village Voosavanipeta in Andhra Pradesh, Malleswari was one of four girls, all of whom trained to become weightlifters. She took up the sport at the age of 12 and trained under the renowned coach Nallamshetty Appanna. To hone her skills, she moved to Delhi where she was spotted by the Sports Authority of India and was moved into the national camp in 1990.
More Sports Personalities Questions
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- Karnam’s parents, unwavering in their support, ensured that all their daughters received the same chance to pursue their dreams.
- Karnam was the middle child in a family of five sisters, and little did the world know that this unassuming girl would etch her name in history.
- Malleswari’s achievements have left an indelible mark on Indian sports, and her influence continues to be felt to this day.
- In the Women’s 48 kg category, Mirabai Chanu won a well-deserved silver medal at the Olympics, continuing the legacy of Indian women in weightlifting.
- As the competition moved into the clean and jerk category, Karnam continued to shine.
- Her hard work and perseverance finally paid off since then she went to win many tournaments between 1995 and 2000.
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However, inspite of her valiant efforts, the weight proved insurmountable on that day. She not only won the Asian Weightlifting Championships in Korea in the 54 kg category but also secured the title in China with a record-breaking lift of 113 kg at the World Championships. Her Olympic victory was one of the biggest moment for India and her life.
It took Saikhom Mirabai Chanu nearly two decades to supersede Karnam’s remarkable accomplishments. In the Women’s 48 kg category, Mirabai Chanu won a well-deserved silver medal at the Olympics, continuing the legacy of Indian women in weightlifting. Malleswari was trained under Leonid Taranenko, who holds the numerous world records in weightlifting. After joining in the national camp organized by SAI In 1990 her life changed completely. She used to train with modern equipment and got more exposure to the sport.
The following year, she won silver in her maiden senior national championship, setting the stage for a glittering career. Before her historic Olympic achievement, Karnam Malleswari had already cemented herself as a two-time weightlifting world champion. She had amassed an impressive collection of 29 international medals, including a staggering 11 gold medals, a testament to her unwavering dedication, relentless spirit, and undeniable talent. It took 12 long years for any woman to come close to matching her achievement, and an additional 4 years for an Indian woman to surpass it in any category.
In 1993 she won a bronze at the World Championships in the 54kg category and won gold in 1994 and 1995. She again won the bronze in 96, and she had truly announced herself to the world. Her hard work and perseverance finally paid off since then she went to win many tournaments between 1995 and 2000. Before becoming the golden girl of India in 2002 Olympics she also won 29 international medals which include 11 gold medals which are regarded as the phenomenal achievement over the years. In 1997, she got married to Rajesh Tyagi and he is also a weightlifter and they were blessed with a baby boy in the year 2001.
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Greatest Indian Olympians: Karnam Malleswari
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Her talent was first spotted by Olympic and world champion Leonid Taranenko at a national camp ahead of the 1990 Asian Games, where she had accompanied her elder sister Krishna Kumari, who was selected for the camp. Had Karnam Malleswari succeeded in lifting that additional weight, she would have achieved a total lift of 247.5 kilograms, surpassing the then gold medalist, Lin Weining from China, by 5 kilograms. This would have made history, as she would have become the first Indian woman to secure an individual Olympic gold in any category. In the snatch category, Karnam displayed her prowess, lifting her weights with apparent ease, achieving a best of 110 kilograms. The stage was set for a remarkable display of strength and determination.
Girls all over the country had a new role model and some of those girls even went on to win Olympic medals like their idol. Sydney was towards the fag end of her career and one prize was still missing from her cabinet, a Commonwealth Games medal. She was preparing to participate in the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester but the loss of her father resulted in her withdrawing from the Games. Despite born in a humble family Karnam rose her feet and achieved greater height during the period where women were not allowed to pursue their educational career. Her achievements will remain forever and we should start celebrating her like we are doing current sportspersons. Born in Chandigarh, Malleswari’s journey into weightlifting began when she was only 12 years old.
Karnam was born in Voosavanipeta, a small village of Andhra Pradesh and groomed up with four siblings. She started her training under the guidance of Neelamshetty Appanna at the age of twelve. When other girls were learning to tie up their plaits properly, Karnam was trying to lift heavy barbells, strengthening her biceps. Karnam along with her sister Krishna Kumari switched to Delhi for better opportunities for her passion where her grit image source was spotted by the Sports Authority of India that paved her way to join the national camp in 1990. After three years, Karnam won a bronze medal at the World Championship and post a year in 1994, became the World Champion, the feat she replicated the next year. Besides this, Karnam also bagged medals at various international stages with her power-pack performance including the World Championships, Asian Games and other national and state championships.
