#3 Karnam Malleswari
It took more than 50 years for India to produce a female Olympic medalist. And the person who broke this medal jinx was a 25-year-old weightlifter named Karnam Malleswari.
She won the bronze medal in the 69 kg category in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Prior to this, she had won the world title in the 54 kg division in 1994 and 1995.
Interestingly, it was her elder sister who was the reason behind her foray into weightlifting. Her sister was at a national training camp and the Russian coach present in that camp spotted Malleswari. Referring to Malleswari, the coach had said that she had talent and should be trained. And the rest, as they say, is history.
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