Born on June 1, 1975 in the small town of Adimurthy, in the state of Andhra Pradesh, Karnam Malleswari managed to become a pride and icon of Indian sports. His path to glory was not easy since, for his time, weightlifting was considered a predominantly male sport. However, this did not stop her; With a lot of effort, sacrifice and determination, Malleswari became one of the best weightlifters in her country and a great inspiration for women in sport.
Weightlifting was something that always caught Malleswari’s attention. At just 12 years old, the renowned athlete began training in her hometown, guided by her brother and various local coaches. As his talent became more and more recognized, he moved to Delhi to continue his training under the guidance of more experienced coaches and reach the most important competitions.
In 1990, Malleswari joined the national weightlifting camp. At the age of 19 he won his first world championship in the 54 kg category and, over time, accumulated an impressive number of international medals, 29 medals exactly, including 11 golds in world competitions. In this way, the athlete was positioning herself as one of the main exponents of her discipline worldwide.
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The way is opening for women in weightlifting
Malleswari reached the highest point of his career at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, where he began a new historic era for Indian sports.
In a fierce competition, Malleswari managed to lift 110 kg in the “snatch” and 130 kg in the “clean and jerk”, making a total of 240 kg. This earned her a bronze medal, making her the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal in weightlifting. Additionally, she was the first Indian weightlifter, regardless of gender, to stand on the Olympic podium.
This achievement is considered a very important achievement, not only for her, but for all women in sports. Her Olympic medal implied recognition of the ability of women to excel in disciplines traditionally dominated by men.
Throughout his career, Malleswari won numerous titles, including the world championships in 1994 and 1995. He also excelled at the Asian Games, where he won gold and silver medals.
An example of dedication and fight for women’s sports
In recognition of her contribution to the sport and her unwavering dedication, Malleswari was awarded several prestigious awards. In 1994 he received the Arjuna Award, which recognizes India’s elite athletes. Later in 1999, she was honored with the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, the country’s highest sports award. That year he also received the Padma Shri, one of the country’s highest civilian honors.
In addition to her sporting achievements, the international competitor has also stood out for her role as an advocate for women’s sports and gender equality. After his retirement, he has worked on initiatives that aim to promote weightlifting in India and has created an organization called Karnam Malleswari Foundation that seeks to encourage and groom new generations of weightlifters in the country.
A strong commitment to sport
In her personal life, Malleswari found support in her husband, Rajesh Tyagi, who is also a renowned weightlifter in his country. Together they have a son.
After retiring from competitions after the 2004 Athens Olympics, he has remained involved in the world of weightlifting, first of all, with the founding of the organization mentioned above. In 2021, she was appointed Vice-Chancellor of the Delhi Sports University, in gratitude and recognition for her contribution to the development of sports in her country. Currently, she works as Managing Director at the Food Corporation of India.
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