75 years of independence, 75 iconic moments of Indian sport: Number 11- Karnam Malleswari wins bronze at 2000 Sydney Olympics

India will complete 75 years of Independence this year. Here is a series of 75 great sports achievements of Indian athletes. Sports star will showcase an iconic sporting achievement every day, through August 15, 2022.

Weightlifter Karnam Malleswari won bronze at the 2000 Sydney Olympics (69 kg class)

At the 2000 Sydney Olympics, weightlifter Karnam Malleswari became the first Indian female athlete to win a medal at the Summer Olympics and revived the low morale of not only the Indian team there but for everyone back home.

READ: Karnam Malleswari with her Sydney 2000 Olympics medal: A Gold Coin Worth It!

Few people in her peaceful Voosavanipeta village in Andhra Pradesh or anywhere else in India for that matter can dream of weightlifter Karnam Malleswari becoming India’s sole medal winner. at the 2000 Sydney Olympics – bronze medalist in 69kg, with an effort of 110kg in the recoil and 130kg in the clean and jerk (240kg).

Only China’s Lin Weining (gold) and Hungary’s Erzsebet Markus (silver) were better for the day.

From left: Erzsebet Markus of Hungary (silver medal); Weining Lin of China (gold medal) and Karnam Malleswari of India (bronze) at the 2000 Summer Olympic Games in Sydney. – AP

At that time, the ‘Iron Woman’, as she was referred to, later regretted her decision to lose 137.5kg on her third attempt in the clean-cut event. But with that wrong lift, she could have won a gold medal.

Malleswari’s bronze was not a big surprise, given her bravery and the fact that she has won two golds and two silvers at the world championships and several medals. gold at the Asian level. However, the Sydney weightlifter’s stellar performance was a tribute to her efficiency.

By any measure, Malleswari’s stunning feat in Sydney remains one of the most memorable chapters in India’s sporting history.

(Read the full article published in The Hindu on July 23, 2016)