Who is the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal?

Indian women have played a significant role in India’s Olympic success, securing a total of eight medals across various events. Karnam Malleswari, a retired Indian weightlifter, made history as the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal in 2000.

Malleswari began her weightlifting career at the age of 12 under the guidance of coach Neelamshetty Appanna. She had a successful career, securing numerous victories.

Malleswari clinched the world title in the 54 kg weight category in 1994 and 1995 and finished third in 1993 and 1996. She also achieved a silver medal at the World Championships in Istanbul in 1994 and claimed gold at the Asian Weightlifting Championships in Korea in 1995. Additionally, Malleswari set a record lift of 113 kg at the World Championships in China that same year.

Before her Olympic success, Malleswari had already established herself as a two-time weightlifting world champion with a total of 29 international medals, including 11 gold.

When Malleswari returned from the 2000 Sydney Olympics, the entire nation praised her. At that time, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee called her "Bharat Ki Beti".

Malleswari has received several awards, including the Arjuna Award in 1994, the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award, India's highest sporting honor, and the civilian Padma Shri award in 1999. In June 2021, she was appointed the vice-chancellor of the newly established Delhi Sports University.

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Other Indian women who have won Olympic medals

1. Saina Nehwal: Nehwal won a bronze medal in the women’s singles at the 2012 London Olympics.
2. Mary Kom: Won bronze medal in women’s flyweight boxing at the 2012 London Olympics.
3. PV Sindhu: Won silver medal in women’s singles badminton at the 2016 Rio Games and bronze at 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
4. Sakshi Malik: Won bronze medal in women’s 58kg wrestling at the 2016 Rio Games.
5. Mirabai Chanu: Won silver medal in women’s 49kg weightlifting at the Tokyo Olympics 2020.
6. Lovlina Borgohain: Won bronze medal in women’s 69kg welterweight boxing at the Tokyo Olympics 2020.
7. Manu Bhaker: Won two bronze medals in Paris Olympics 2024