In a remarkable achievement that etched her name in the annals of Indian sports history, Kawaljit Kaur Sandhu became the first Indian woman athlete to win a gold medal in an international competition. Her triumph came in the 400-meter race at the 6th Asian Games, held in Bangkok in 1970, a moment that marked a turning point for Indian women in athletics.
Sandhu, then a 21-year-old college student from Chandigarh, crossed the finish line in 57.3 seconds, leaving her competitors—Japan’s Nobuko Kawano and Israel’s Avlin Balars—behind. This victory not only brought her personal glory but also set a new benchmark for Indian women in the global sports arena.
The 1970 Asian Games proved to be a milestone in Indian athletics, with Sandhu’s victory symbolizing a new era of potential and achievement for the nation’s female athletes. Her extraordinary performance on that Bangkok track earned her the prestigious Padma Shri award from the Government of India, one of the country’s highest civilian honors.
Beyond her Asian Games success, Sandhu was a dominant force in national athletics, holding the Indian records in the 200-meter and 400-meter races for an entire decade. Her achievements have inspired countless young athletes across the country and have paved the way for future generations of Indian women in sports.
Kawaljit Kaur Sandhu’s legacy is one of perseverance, dedication, and trailblazing success, forever remembered as the woman who set new standards in Indian athletics and brought home the first international gold.
