Track Legend M.D. Valsamma Honored at Sportstar Aces Awards 2026 Former Indian hurdler M.D. Valsamma was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award (Female) at the Sportstar Aces Awards 2026 in Mumbai on Friday, recognizing her pioneering contributions to women’s athletics in India. The award celebrates her legacy as one of the nation’s most influential track and field athletes during the late 1970s and 1980s. Born in Kannur, Valsamma rose swiftly through the national ranks to earn a place in the Indian team, becoming a dominant force in the 400 m hurdles. Valsamma etched her name in history at the 1982 Asian Games in New Delhi, where she won gold in the women’s 400 m hurdles with a time of 58.47 seconds. This victory set both an Asian and national record, making her the second Indian woman to secure an individual Asian Games gold medal and the first to achieve this feat on home soil. She also played a key role in India’s silver medal in the 4×400 m relay at the same Games. Her international career continued with a notable appearance at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, where the Indian women’s 4×400 m relay team reached the final for the first time in the country’s Olympic history. Over a career spanning nearly 15 years, Valsamma competed in multiple Asian Games, Asian championships, World Cup meets, and SAF Games, consistently demonstrating her competitive spirit and dedication. Her achievements earned her several prestigious honors, including the Arjuna Award in 1982, the Padma Shri in 1983, and the G.V. Raja Award by the Kerala government.#amul #casagrand #srm_institute_of_science_and_technology #md_valsamma #sportstar_aces_awards_2026
Former India Captain Nari Contractor Honored with Sportstar Aces Lifetime Achievement Award Former India cricket captain Nari Contractor was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award (Male) at the Sportstar Aces Awards 2026 in Mumbai, recognizing his distinguished career marked by exceptional skill, leadership, and resilience. The award celebrates his contributions to Indian cricket, which spanned several decades and left an indelible mark on the sport. Nariman Jamshedji "Nari" Contractor, one of India’s most accomplished opening batsmen of the 1950s and early 1960s, made his Test debut in 1955. Over the course of his international career, he played 31 Tests, accumulating 1,611 runs at an average of 31.58. His performances included a century, eleven half-centuries, and a highest score of 108. Known for his elegant left-handed batting and sound technique, Contractor became a key figure in India’s cricketing history. Contractor’s leadership qualities were evident when he was appointed India’s youngest captain in 1961 at the age of 26. Under his guidance, the team secured a historic series victory over England in the 1961–62 tour, a milestone that remains a defining moment in Indian cricket. However, his international career was abruptly interrupted during India’s tour of the West Indies in 1962. A severe injury—a fractured skull caused by a bouncer from fast bowler Charlie Griffith—forced him to undergo multiple surgeries and blood transfusions, including one from West Indies captain Frank Worrell. Despite the life-threatening nature of the injury, Contractor’s determination to return to the game was remarkable. After a prolonged recovery, he made a triumphant return to domestic cricket, where he continued to excel.#amul #nari_contractor #sportstar_aces_awards #casagrand #srm_institute_of_science_and_technology
