Physical Education

K. M. Beenamol (Athletics-2003) Khel Ratna & Arjuna Awardee

Kalayathumkuzhi Mathews Beenamol, popularly known as K M Beenamol (born 15 August 1975, Kombidinjal, a village in Kerala,India) is an international athlete from India. She became the third Indian woman to reach an Olympics semi-final since P. T. Usha(1984 LA Olympics in 400m Hurdles, Shiny Wilson in 800m in 1984 LA Olympics.[1] Until she won the first heat at the Sydney Olympics 2000, Beenamol was largely unknown. She won the gold medal in women's 800m and the 4 × 400 m women's relay in the2002 Asian Games held at Busan. Beenamol also made history with her brother K. M. Binu, when they became the first Indian siblings to win medals in a major international competition. Binu won a silver medal in men's 800m race. She was a joint winner of India's highest sporting honour, the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award in the year 2002-2003 along with Anjali Ved Pathak Bhagwat. In 2004, she was awarded the Padma Shri.