History of Athletics In Kerala
Athletics, the Mother discipline holds pride of place among all sports. It is particularly true of Kerala, which has consistently proved to be a mine of athletic talent throughout the history of organized athletics activity of the country. Men and Women athletes of Kerala from T.C.Yohannan and Suresh Babu to Primesh and Manojlal and P.T.Usha and Shiny Wilson to K.M.Beenamol, who have done the country proud, are legion.
Kerala has its humble beginning in athletics in the start of the twentieth century. The members of the East India Company and its associates promoted athletics in Kannur and Kozhikode. Athletics developed in the central Tavancore through the churches. In the early fifties and sixties competitions in athletics were organized in the play fields of even small churches in Idukki and Kottayam.
The Kerala State Amateur Athletic Association, which evolved from the Travancore Amateur Athletic Association with the dawn of the country's independence in 1947, has had a glorious history. The Kerala State Amateur Athletic association had its origin in the Travancore Olympic Association, which was started in 1947 under the president ship of Col. Govinda Varma. Raja and secretary ship of Raghavan Nair. The Olympic Association had 4 units - Amateur Athletic, Volleyball, Basketball and Football. Sri Raghavan Nair was the secretary of Amateur Athletic also and the President was Sri. R.V. Raja. The first Kerala State Championship was conducted in 1957. State Association Organized a national championship for the first time in 1959 at Central Stadium Trivandrum.
Roll of Honor of Presidents and Secretaries
| Period |
President |
Secretary |
Top
|
| 1951-1957 |
Col. Govinda.Varma. Raja |
Sri. Raghavan Nair
|
| 1957-1959 |
Col. Govinda.Varma. Raja |
Prof. Ramakrishnan Nair
|
| 1959-1962 |
Sri. E.P.Eapen Ex MLA |
Prof. K.A. Raghavan
|
| 1962-1974 |
Padmasree. K.M. Mathew |
Prof. K.A. Raghavan
|
| 1975-1978 |
Prof. Sivaprasad |
Prof. T.S. Joseph
|
| 1978-1985 |
Sri. Balagangadhara Menon IPS |
Prof. K.A.Raghavan
|
| 1985-1992 |
Sri. M.K.Joseph IPS |
Prof. S. Pazhania Pillai
|
| 1992-1995 |
Sri. Joseph Thomas IPS |
Sri. M.S. Kumaran
|
| 1995-1998 |
Sri. Joseph Thomas IPS |
Dr. Tony Daniel
|
| 1998-2000 |
Sri.J.A.Majeed |
Dr. Tony Daniel
|
| 2000-2008 |
Sri. J.A. Majeed |
Prof. Paul Aluvathingal
|
| 2008-2012 |
Mr. Baby Mathew
Somateeram |
Prof.
M.Velayudhankutty |
Olympian athletes from Kerala
World Athletic Championship
|
| 1979 |
Montreal |
Suresh Babu
|
| 1983 |
Helsinki |
Mercy Kuttan
|
| 2003 |
Paris |
Anju Bobby George Bronze in Long Jump- First ever medal by an Indian
|
Athletics represented India in Asian Games and Asian Track and Field
Men |
|
| 1951 |
Delhi |
Errol D'Clause 400mH |
| 1954 |
Manila |
Ivan Jacob Bronze in 400m and 4x400 relay |
| 1973 |
Manila (ATF) |
Sathish Pillai Bronze in Long Jump ( 7.53m)
Abdul Assis 3rd in 4x100m Relay (40.3 )
Francis Xavier 2nd in 20km walk
O.L. Thomas 3rd in 4x100m Relay (40.41)7th in 200 (21.80 Sec)
T.C.Yohannan 5th Long Jump (7.49) 3rd in Triple Jump ( 14.96m) |
| 1974 |
Tehran |
T.C.Yohannan Gold and Asian record in Long Jump
Sathish Pillai Bronze in Long Jump
Suresh Babu Bronze in Decathlon |
| 1975 |
Seoul (ATF) |
T.C.Yohannan Gold in Long Jump(7.65m)
Suresh Babu Gold in Decathlon (6931 pts) |
| 1978 |
Bangkok |
Suresh Babu Gold in Long Jump
M.G.Muralikuttan Bronze in 400m Silver in 4x400 |
1979 |
Tokyo (ATF) |
Suresh Babu Long Jump Silver (7.94) |
1981 |
Tokyo (ATF) |
M.G.Muralikuttan Bronze in 4x400 Rely(3:10.54) |
1982 |
New Delhi |
K K Premachandran Silver in 400m
Subash George 5th Place in Triple Jump |
1985 |
Jakarta (ATF) |
Ibrahim Cheenika Member of 4x400 team |
1989 |
New Delhi (ATF) |
Sanjeevan R 4th in Long jump (7.77m)
Eldo M A 8th in Pole Vault ( 4.70m)
C.S.Muralidharan Silver medal in 400m
P.V.Wilson 7th in Long Jump (7.56m) |
1990 |
Beijing |
P.V.Raju Member of Indian Team
Shyamkumar, 4th place in Long Jump
C.S.Muralidharan Represented India |
1991 |
Kuala Lumpur(ATF) |
Shyamkumar 5th in Long jump (7.76m)
Jossey Mathew 5th 800m ( 1:52.25) |
1992
|
Hiroshima |
P. I Sebastian Represented India in 400m and 4x400 |
1995 |
Jakarta(ATF) |
Lijo David Thottan Member of Indian Team |
1998 |
Fukuoka (ATF) |
P. Ramachnadran represented India
Lijo David Thottan 8th in 400m ( 46.64) 1998 Bangkok P.Ramachandran Silver in 4x400
Lijo David Thottan 4x400 Silver
P Anilkumar Silver in 100m |
2000 |
Jakarta (ATF) |
K.J.Manojlal Silver in 4x400m (3:02.78)
Lijo David Thottan Silver in 4x400m (3:02.78)
P.Ramachandran 5th in 400m (45.86) Silver in 4x400m (3:02.78)
Bobby Aloysius Gold in High Jump(1.83) |
2002 |
Colombo (ATF) |
T.M.Sajeev 6th in 1500 (3:51.46) |
2002 |
Bussan |
P Anilkumar 100m and 4x100
Binu K M silver in 800m
Manojlal K J Silver in 4x400
P.Ramachandran Silver in 4x400 |
2003 |
Manila ATF |
Manojlal K J , Vinod P J, Binu K M ,Primesh P S, P Anilkumar |
| 2005 |
Incheon (ATF) |
|
| 2006 |
Doha Asian Games |
Joseph G Abraham. Binu K M, Aboobacker., |
| 2007 |
Jordan (ATF) |
Renjith Maheswary (Gold in Triple Jump),
Bibbu Mathew (Bronze in Triple Jump) Joseph G Abraham (Silver
in 400mH) Sarish Paul (Gold in 4x400) Binu K M (Gold in 4x400) |
| 2009 |
Guangzhou (ATF) |
C Hamza( Bronze in 1500m), Joseph G
Abraham (Silver in 400mH), Bibin Mathew (Bronze in 4x400m),
Bineesh V B (Bronze in 4x400m) |
Women |
|
1978 |
Bangkok |
Angel Mary Joseph Silver in Long Jump and Heptathlon
|
1981 |
Tokyo (ATF) |
M.D.Valsamma Bronze in 400mH (61.16)
Mercy Kuttan Bronze in Long Jump(5.92) and 4x400
Angel Mary Joseph 5th in 400mH (62.09) 4th in Long Jump |
1982 |
Delhi |
Angel Mary Joseph 5th place in Heptathlon
M.D. Valsamma Gold in 400mH
Srikumari Amma Reserve in Relay teams
Padmini Selvan Bronze in 400m, Silver in 4x400
P.T.Usha Silver in 100m, 200m and 4x100
Mercy Kuttan Silvern in Long Jump
Kunjukunjamma 4x100 Silver |
1983 |
Kuwait (ATF) |
Mercy Kuttan 5th in Long Jump (6.04)
P.T.Usha Silver in 200m(24.68) Gold in 400m (54.20)Gold |
1985 |
Jakarta (ATF) |
M.D.Valsamma 5th in 100mH (14.02) Silver in 400mH (57.81) Bronze in 4x100m (45.22)
Shiny Abraham Gold in 800m ( 2:03.16) Gold in 4x400 (3:34.10
P.T.Usha Gold in 100m(11.64) 200m(23.05) 400m (52.62) 400mH (56.64) Bronze in 4x100 (45.22)4x400 (3:34.10) |
1986 |
Seoul |
P.T.Usha Gold in 400mH, 200m, 400m 4x100, 4x400And Silver in 100m
Shiny Wilson Disqualified after winning the 800m gold
M.D.Valsamma Gold 4x400 |
1987 |
Singapore |
Sany Joseph Silver in 4x100m ( 45.49)
Shiny Wilson 4th in 800m (2:06.63) 6th in 1500m ( 4:27.90) Gold in 4x400m (3:34.50)
P.T.Usha Silver in 100m (11.74) Gold in 400m (52.31) 400mH (56.48) Silver in 4x100 (45.49) Gold in 4x400 (3:34.50) |
1989 |
New Delhi |
Sany Joseph Silver in 4x100 (44.87)
K.Saramma Silver in 4x100m (44.87) Gold in 4x400 (3:32.95)
Jolly Joseph 6th in Heptathlon (4612)
Rosakutty K C Silver in 800m ( 2:07.75 )7th in 1500 (4:28.69)
Shiny Wilson Silver in 400m (52.40 ) Gold in 800m ( 2:04.74) Gold in 4x400 (3:32.95)
P.T.Usha Silver in 100m (11.74) Gold in 200m (23.27) Gold in 400m (51.90) 400mH (56.14) Silver in 4x100 (44.87) Gold in 4x400 (3:32.95)
Mercy Kuttan Gold in 4x400 (3:32.95)
K.Saramma Gold in 4x400 (3:32.95) |
1990 |
Beijing |
P.T.Usha Silver in 400m, 4x100 and 4x400
K.Saramma Silver in 4x100 and 4x400
P Leelamma Silver in 10000m |
1991 |
Kuala Lumpur (ATF) |
Shantymol Philips 4th in 400mH(59.52)
L Leelamma Silver in 10000m ( 35:38.90)
Molly Chacko 5th in 1500m (4:30.71) Silver in 3000m (9:14.07)
Shiny Wilson Gold in 400m (53.46) Silver in 800m (2:05.18) Gold in 4x400 (3:33.50)
K Saramma Bronze in 400m (53.51) Gold in 4x400 (3:33.50) |
1993 |
Manila (ATF) |
Beena Augustine Bronze in 4x100m (45.34)
K.Saramma Bronze in 4x100m (45.34) Silver in 4x400 ( 3:36.06)
E.B.Shyla Bronze in 4x100m (45.34)
Molly Chacko Bronze in 1500m (4:20.98) Bronze in 3000m(9:24.57)
Shiny Wilson 5th in 400m (54.40) 4th in 800m (2:05.21) Silver in 4x400 ( 3:36.06)
K Saramma Bronze in 400m (52.83) |
1994 |
Hiroshima |
P.T.Usha silver in 4x400
Beena Augustine
Moly Chacko |
1995 |
Jakarta (ATF) |
Rosakutty K C Silver in 4x400m ( 3:33.43)
Lekha Thomas 5th in Long Jump (6.30) 6th in Triple Jump (12.71)
Shiny Wilson Silverin 800m Silver in 4x400m ( 3:33.43)
Beena Augustine Bronze in 4x100 |
1998 |
Fukuoka (ATF) |
Rosakutty K C Silver in 4x400 (3:34.48)
P.T.Usha 200m Bronze (23.27) Bronze in 400m (52.55) Gold in 4x100 (44.43) Silver in 4x400 (3:34.48) |
1998 |
Bangkok |
Lekha Thomas Long Jump and Triple Jump
P.T.Usha Bronze in 200m an d400m Gold in 4x100 Silver in 4x400
K.M. Beenamol Silver in 4x400 |
2000 |
Jakarta (ATF) |
K.M.Beenamol Gold in 4x400 (3:31.54)
Jincy Philip Gold in 4x400 (3:31.54)
Rosakutty K C Bronze in 800m ( 2:04.97) Gold in 4x400 (3:31.54)
Bobby Aloysius Gold in High jump (1.83) |
2002 |
Bussan |
Bobby Aloysius Bronze in High Jump
K.M.Beenamol Gold in 800m an d4x400 Silver in 400m
Anju Bobby George Silver in Long Jump
Jincy Philip Gold in 4x400m
Manjima Kuriakose Gold in 4x400 |
| 2005 |
Incheon (ATF) |
Anju bobby George (Gold in Long
jump), Chithra K Soman (Gold in 4x400) |
| 2006 |
Doha Asian Games |
Chithra K Soman, Sinimole Paulose,
Jaisha O P, Anju Bobby George |
| 2007 |
Jordan |
Sinimole Paulose (Gold in 1500m,
Silver in 800m) Preeja Sreedharan (ilver in 5000m)
Anju Bobby George (Silver in Long Jump), Chithra K
Soman (Gold in 400m & 4x400), Sini Jose (Gold in
4x400) |
| 2009 |
Guangzhhou (ATF) |
Sini Jose (Gold in 4x400m)
Chithra k Soman (Gold in 4x400m) |
| |
|
|
Junior Asian Track & Field Meet
|
|
| |
Boys |
|
| 1996 |
New Delhi |
Abdulla P H
silver in 400m (
)
Pradeep Mathew Paul (800m)
Sreekumar D (400m) |
1999 |
Singapore |
K M Binu
Bronze Medal in 800m (1:49.60)
|
2004 |
Malaysia |
Sajeesh
Joseph Bronze in 800m (1:53.50)
Clinton K J Gold in Long Jump (7.57m) |
| |
|
|
| |
Girls |
|
| 1992 |
New Delhi |
K M Beenamole
Gold in 800m (2:07.73)
K.K. Saramma Bronze in 400m (55.07)
K.S. Bijimole Bronze in 800m (2:08.36)
Lekah Thomas Bronze in Long Jump (5.98m) |
| 1996 |
New Delhi |
K M Beenamole
Silver in 400m (55.01)
Jaicy Thomas Bronze in High Jump (1.70m) |
Afro Asian Games 1
|
2003 |
Hyderabad |
Manoj Lal K J 4th in 400m (46.14), P. Ramachnadran
P. S Primesh 5th in 800m ( 1:52.00), Jincy Ramachnadran 5th in 400m 4th in 4x400m, Bobby Aloysius Silver in High Jump (1.88)
Anju Bobby George Gold in Long Jump (6.53 ) |
Commonwealth Games
|
1978 |
Edmonton |
Suresh Babu Bronze in Long Jump
Ravikumar- Participated in Triple Jump
|
1982 |
Brisbane |
Mercy Kuttan First lady to represent India |
2002 |
Manchester |
Anju Boby George Bronze in Long Jump First Indian Lady Win a medal in the Games |
Arjuna Award Winners from Kerala
|
1974 |
Sri. T.C. Yohannan |
|
1978 |
Sri. Suresh Babu |
1979 |
Ms. Angel Mary Joseph |
1982 |
Ms. M.D.Valsamma |
1983 |
Ms. P T Usha |
1984 |
Ms. Shiny Abraham |
1989 |
Ms. Mercy Kutttan |
1993 |
Ms. K Saramma |
1994 |
Ms. K.C.Rosakutty |
1995 |
Ms. Padmini Selvan |
2000 |
Ms. K.M.Beenamol |
2003 |
Ms. Anju Bobby George |
|
2009 |
Sinimole Paulose |
|
|
|
G.V. Raja Award winners in Athletics
|
| 1976-77 |
M.B.Sathayanandan |
|
1978-79 |
M.B.Suresh Babu, Jose C Kappan
|
| 1980-81 |
P.T.Usha, Mercy Mathew,
Sreekumari Amma, M.P Sobhana,
K.S.Viswanathan Nair,A.V.Asokan,
Najeeb Mohammed, Rajan Joseph,
Abraham Mathew, Elizabeth K Mathai
M.Maya, Padmini Thomas, Susamma Daniel, Sani Joseph |
|
1981-82 |
Shiny K Abraham, M.D.Valsamma,
Anie Varghese, V.Chandrika,
K C Valsa, K V Remesan,
K Suresh Raj, Francis Xavier |
| 1982-83 |
V.A.Ibrahim, M.T.Mary |
|
1983-84 |
K.K.Premachandran, Alphonsa Kurian,
Subash George |
| 1985-86 |
P.T.Rajeev |
|
1987-88 |
Philomina Joseph, Dolly K Joseph,
Ibrahim Cheenika, Mini P A |
| 1988-89 |
Bobby Aloysius, M.B.Sadasivan |
|
1989-90 |
M.C.Sebatian, Roy P Joseph, M.A.Eldo, K.S. Bijimol,
Shiny Varghese |
| 1991-92 |
Ancy Philip, K.Saramma, C.S.Muraleedharan,
P.V.Raju, Manoj P M, Santhimol Philips,
Rose Antony Alias |
|
1994-95 |
Beena Augustine
|
| 1998-99 |
K.M.Beenamol |
|
2000-01 |
Molly Biju
|
| 2001-02 |
K.J.Manoj Lal, Preeja Sreedharan |
|
|
|
Padmasree Award winners
|
1983 |
M.D.Valsamma
|
1984 |
P.T.Usha
|
1998 |
Shiny Wilson
|
Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna
|
2003 |
Ms. K.M .Beenamol |
| 2004 |
Ms. Anju Bobby George |
Dhronachariya Award Winner
|
Sri. O.M.Nambiar |
| Sri. Bobby George |
|
