Shiny Abraham
Encyclopedia
Shiny Wilson (born May 8, 1965) is a retired Indian athlete. She has been a National Champion in 800 metres for 14 years. Shiny Abraham Wilson (Shiny Abraham) represented India more than 75 times in international competition. She holds the added distinction of representing Asia in four World Cups, She is also perhaps the only athlete to have taken part in six Asian Track & Field Meets in a row beginning 1985 in Jakarta. During this period she won seven gold , five silver and two bronze medals. She collected a total or 18 gold and two silver medals from the seven South Asian Federation (SAF) Meets she has competed.
Born at Thodupuzha village in Idukki district
of Kerala
on 8 May 1965, Shiny became interested in athletics as a child but developed her skills after joining the sports division in Kottayam
. In fact Shiny, PT Usha and M D Valsamma studied at the same sports division in various parts of Kerala and as they grew up, they were coached by the NIS coach P. J. Devesla. Shiny was then trained at G.V. Raja Sports School in Trivandrum before she moved to Alphonsa College in Palai.
Shiny Abraham's athletics career ran alongside that of PT Usha from the time the two of them represented the country in the Asian Games
in New Delhi in 1982. Shiny became national champion in the 800 metres a year before the Asian Games in Delhi. After that and until she announced her retirement, she has won the event every time she did the course on the national scene, A veteran of four Olympics and three Asian Games, Shiny has some great moments to cherish, particularly the experience in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games
where she became the first woman from India to enter the semi-final of an Olympic event. And more importantly, she was part of the relay squad which set the Asian record there and again when it improved upon that mark during the World Championship in Rome in 1987.
Shiny also has some bitter memories, of the day when she cut into the inner lane and was disqualified while very much in front of the field during the 1986 Asian Games
in Seoul
. She also cherishes the memory of the 1992 Barcelona Olympics when she became the first women to be the flag bearer for India at the Olympics.
Her most memorable competition was the Asian Track & Field Meet at Delhi
in 1989, despite being in the family way, she ran the 800 meters to come second behind Sun Sumei of China but then Sumei tested positive and Shiny was lucky that for a period she had the benefit of Sriram Singh
’s guidance. One of her greatest achievements was that she was running even faster after the birth of her child. Her 1:58.8 at the 1995 South Asian Federation (SAF) Games in Chennai was achieved after the delivery of her daughter Shilpa. This was the first time that she was able to come under two minutes. She is married to well-known international swimmer and Arjuna awardee, Cherian Wilson and employed as Deputy Manager (Sports) with Food corporation of India, Shiny was awarded the Arjuna Award in 1985, Birla Award in 1996 and Padma Shri in 1998. she is also the recipient of Chinese Journalists Award 1991 for being one of the Top Ten Athletes of Asia.
: Los Angeles (1984)
, Seoul (1988)
, Barcelona (1992)
and Atlanta(1996)
. . Although she didn't win any medals at any of the four Olympics, she and P.T. Usha
powered India to an unexpected Women's 4X400 relay final at the 1984 Games. She was also the captain of the Indian Contingent at the 1992 Games.
She has also represented India in three Asian Games
and has won a Gold, 2 Silvers and a Bronze.
In the Asian Track and Field meets, she has won 7 Gold Medals, 6 Silver Medals and 2 Bronze Medals.
in 1984.
received padma shri award in 1998 . received Chinese journalist award 1991
padmashri 1998
Born at Thodupuzha village in Idukki district
Idukki district
Idukki district is one among the 14 districts of Kerala state, India. The district headquarters is located at in Painavu.It is the second least populous district in Kerala, after Wayanad .-Etymology:...
of Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
on 8 May 1965, Shiny became interested in athletics as a child but developed her skills after joining the sports division in Kottayam
Kottayam
Kottayam is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative capital of the Kottayam district. Kottayam Kottayam (Malayalam: കോട്ടയം) is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative...
. In fact Shiny, PT Usha and M D Valsamma studied at the same sports division in various parts of Kerala and as they grew up, they were coached by the NIS coach P. J. Devesla. Shiny was then trained at G.V. Raja Sports School in Trivandrum before she moved to Alphonsa College in Palai.
Shiny Abraham's athletics career ran alongside that of PT Usha from the time the two of them represented the country in the Asian Games
Asian Games
The Asian Games, officially known as Asiad, is a multi-sport event held every four years among athletes from all over Asia. The Games were regulated by the Asian Games Federation from the first Games in New Delhi, India, until the 1978 Games. Since the 1982 Games they have been organised by the...
in New Delhi in 1982. Shiny became national champion in the 800 metres a year before the Asian Games in Delhi. After that and until she announced her retirement, she has won the event every time she did the course on the national scene, A veteran of four Olympics and three Asian Games, Shiny has some great moments to cherish, particularly the experience in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games
1984 Summer Olympics
The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1984...
where she became the first woman from India to enter the semi-final of an Olympic event. And more importantly, she was part of the relay squad which set the Asian record there and again when it improved upon that mark during the World Championship in Rome in 1987.
Shiny also has some bitter memories, of the day when she cut into the inner lane and was disqualified while very much in front of the field during the 1986 Asian Games
1986 Asian Games
The 10th Asian Games were held from September 20, 1986 to October 5, 1986 in Seoul, South Korea. The city was supposed to host the 1970 games, but it received security threats from neighboring North Korea, forcing it to give up hosting the games to previous 1966 host Bangkok, Thailand...
in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
. She also cherishes the memory of the 1992 Barcelona Olympics when she became the first women to be the flag bearer for India at the Olympics.
Her most memorable competition was the Asian Track & Field Meet at Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
in 1989, despite being in the family way, she ran the 800 meters to come second behind Sun Sumei of China but then Sumei tested positive and Shiny was lucky that for a period she had the benefit of Sriram Singh
Sriram Singh
Sriram Singh was an Indian middle distance runner.Sriram Singh joined Rajputana Rifles in 1968 where he came under the influence of the coach Ilyas Babar. Babar persuaded him to shift his focus from 400m to 800m....
’s guidance. One of her greatest achievements was that she was running even faster after the birth of her child. Her 1:58.8 at the 1995 South Asian Federation (SAF) Games in Chennai was achieved after the delivery of her daughter Shilpa. This was the first time that she was able to come under two minutes. She is married to well-known international swimmer and Arjuna awardee, Cherian Wilson and employed as Deputy Manager (Sports) with Food corporation of India, Shiny was awarded the Arjuna Award in 1985, Birla Award in 1996 and Padma Shri in 1998. she is also the recipient of Chinese Journalists Award 1991 for being one of the Top Ten Athletes of Asia.
Participation
Shiny Abraham has participated in four Olympic GamesOlympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
: Los Angeles (1984)
1984 Summer Olympics
The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1984...
, Seoul (1988)
1988 Summer Olympics
The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an all international multi-sport events celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics...
, Barcelona (1992)
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
and Atlanta(1996)
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
. . Although she didn't win any medals at any of the four Olympics, she and P.T. Usha
Pilavullakandi Thekkeparambil Usha
Pilavullakandi Thekkeparambil Usha , popularly known as P. T. Usha, is an Indian athlete from the state of Kerala. P. T. Usha has been associated with Indian athletics since 1979. She is regarded as one of the greatest athletes India has ever produced and is often called the "queen of Indian track...
powered India to an unexpected Women's 4X400 relay final at the 1984 Games. She was also the captain of the Indian Contingent at the 1992 Games.
She has also represented India in three Asian Games
Asian Games
The Asian Games, officially known as Asiad, is a multi-sport event held every four years among athletes from all over Asia. The Games were regulated by the Asian Games Federation from the first Games in New Delhi, India, until the 1978 Games. Since the 1982 Games they have been organised by the...
and has won a Gold, 2 Silvers and a Bronze.
In the Asian Track and Field meets, she has won 7 Gold Medals, 6 Silver Medals and 2 Bronze Medals.
Awards
She received the Arjuna awardArjuna award
The Arjuna Awards were instituted in 1961 by the government of India to recognize outstanding achievement in National sports. The award carries a cash prize of 500,000, a bronze statuette of Arjuna and a scroll....
in 1984.
received padma shri award in 1998 . received Chinese journalist award 1991
See also
- List of Indian women athletes
- List of Kerala Olympians
- Indian national records in athletics
padmashri 1998