I plan to retire now says, Malleswari

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Sydney: Karnam Malleswari is now a national hero in India and no longer a former world champion weightlifter accused of eating and drinking too much.

The 25-year-old was hailed as a treasure and role model on Wednesday by India's media, sports officials and politicians for her bronze medal-winning performance at the Sydney Games, the first Olympic medal ever won by an Indian woman.

But Malleswari has had enough and, having proved her critics wrong, she plans to retire now from international competition. "I've been training for the last 12 years," she told Reuters at the Athletes' Village where she has been overwhelmed by congratulations since Tuesday's medal win.

"Now I'm a little tired," she said. "I want a rest now." World champion in 1994 and 1995, Malleswari was hurt in the leadup to the Sydney Olympics by a critical article in an Indian magazine, which said she was overweight and drank beer.

"They had accused me of being overweight and unfit... and now I have proved them wrong," she said "I'm very happy that I've won the first (medal by a woman) for India. I'm blessed to win the first medal. Too bad I couldn't win gold."

"She is a national hero, the first Indian woman to win a medal," said Sandeep Mehta, the spokesman for the Indian Olympic Committee in Sydney. "We hope that this will open the gates for other women in sports in India," Mehta said.

Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who phoned Malleswari in Sydney to congratulate her after her medal win, hailed her success as "a tribute to Indian womanhood". President K R Narayanan also sent a congratulatory message.



(c) Reuters Limited.