Track legend M.D. Valsamma feted at Sportstar Aces Awards 2026
Former Indian hurdler M.D. Valsamma was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award (Female) at the Sportstar Aces Awards 2026 in Mumbai on Friday, recognising her pioneering role in shaping women’s athletics in the country.
Manathoor Devasia Valsamma emerged as one of India’s leading track and field athletes during the late 1970s and 1980s, becoming a dominant force in the 400 m hurdles. The Kannur-born athlete rose swiftly through the national ranks to earn a place in the Indian team.
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, setting both an Asian and national record. The victory made her the second Indian woman to win an individual Asian Games gold medal and the first to do so on home soil. She also contributed to India’s silver medal in the 4×400 m relay at the same Games.
Valsamma later represented India 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.
Across a career spanning nearly 15 years, she competed at multiple Asian Games, Asian championships, World Cup meets and SAF Games, consistently demonstrating her competitive spirit.
Her achievements earned her several honours, including the Arjuna Award in 1982, the Padma Shri in 1983 and the G.V. Raja Award by the Kerala government.
The 2026 Sportstar Aces Awards are presented by Amul, co-presented by Casagrand in association with SRM Institute of Science and Technology. SBI, Christ University, Bharat Petroleum, LIC, Sports Authority of Telangana, NTPC, Indian Softball Cricket Foundation, Jaquar And Company Private Limited are associate partners. Reva University is the education partner. Blue Star is the cooling partner while Times Now is the telecast partner.
Published on Mar 13, 2026