• Arjuna Award: Received this prestigious award in 1973 for his extraordinary achievements in athletics. • Padma Shri: Honored with India's fourth-highest civilian award in 1974. • "Best Athlete of Asia": Acknowledged for his performance across the Asian continent in 1978.
Sriram Singh Shakhawat is a legendary Indian middle-distance runner from Rajasthan, renowned for his performance in the 800-meter event during the 1970s. A former army officer, his remarkable career is highlighted by his historic performance at the 1976 Montreal Olympics, multiple Asian Games medals, and a national record that stood for over four decades.
Sporting achievements
- 1976 Montreal Olympics: Singh's most iconic race was the 800-meter final, where he finished seventh but set a new Asian record with a time of 1:45.77.
- His aggressive front-running style in the final, where he led for the first 500 meters, was credited by the eventual gold medalist for helping set a world-record time.
- His national record stood for an incredible 42 years, until 2018.
- Asian Games: Singh was a dominant force at the continental level, winning multiple medals:
- Gold: He won gold medals in the 800m at the 1974 Asian Games in Tehran and the 1978 Asian Games in Bangkok.
- Silver: He secured a silver medal in the 800m at the 1970 Asian Games in Bangkok.
- Asian Championships: He earned a silver medal in the 800m in 1973 and won three gold medals (400m, 800m, and 4x400m relay) at the 1975 Asian Championships.
Awards and recognition
- Arjuna Award: Received this prestigious award in 1973 for his extraordinary achievements in athletics.
- Padma Shri: Honored with India's fourth-highest civilian award in 1974.
- "Best Athlete of Asia": Acknowledged for his performance across the Asian continent in 1978.
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