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
