5 Women athletes from Kerala who took their game and country to a whole new level

#4 M.D. Valsamma

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M.D. Valsamma hails from Ottathai, Kannur, Kerala and is the first Indian woman to secure a medal at an international event on Indian soil.

Her gold medal at the 400 m Hurdles event during the 1982 Asian Games made her the second Indian woman to secure a medal at the prestigious Asian Games. Additionally, she secured a couple of medals at the 1981 and the 1985 Asian Athletic Championships. Her individual medals came during the 400 m Hurdles while other medals came at the 4 X 400 m relay event. Also, Valsamma secured three medals at the 1989 South Asian Games, held at Islamabad.

Moreover, she was part of the team along with Shiny Abraham and P.T. Usha who managed to take the Indian contingent to the finals of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics relay event.

For her immense contribution, the Government of India presented her the Arjuna award in 1982 and the Padma Shri in 1983.