New Delhi: Indian first woman weight lifter and Olympic medal winner Karnam Malleswari appointed as the first Vice-Chancellor of Delhi Sports University on Tuesday.

Her record still remains intact as no woman from India won a medal in weightlifting at Olympics. She was honoured with Arjuna Award in 1994 and Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award in 1999. She is also a recipient of Padma Shri Award in 1999.  Malleswari is now working as Chief General Manager in the FCI.

She hailed from Srikakulam district in Andhra Pradesh. She began undergoing training in weightlifting when she was 12 years under SAAP coach Neelamsetti Appanna. She won several international medals, including two gold medals and two silver medals in World Championship in 1993, 1994, 1995 and 1996. After failing to win a medal at the Athens 2004 Olympics, she announced retirement.