Padmini Thomas is an Indian

athlete An athlete is most commonly a person who competes in one or more sports involving physical strength, speed, power, or endurance. Sometimes, the word "athlete" is used to refer specifically to sport of athletics competitors, i.e. including track ...

and a former president of the Kerala State Sports Council. She won a Silver medal in 4 × 100 m relay and a bronze medal in the 400 metres in the

1982 Asian Games The 9th Asian Games (), also known as Delhi 1982 (), were held from 19 November to 4 December 1982, in Delhi, India. 74 Asian and Asian Games records were broken at the event. This was also the first Asiad to be held under the aegis of the Olymp ...

. She is a recipient of the

Arjuna Award The Arjuna Award, officially known as Arjuna Awards given for Outstanding Performance in Sports and Games, is the second-highest sporting honour of India, the highest being the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. The award is named after Arjun ...

. Thomas was married to John Selvan, a former Indian athlete, who died on May 6, 2020, succumbing to the injuries sustained from a fall from the terrace of their home in Thiruvananthapuram. Her daughter, Diana John Selvan and son, Dany John Selvan, are both sports persons in their own right. In March 2024, Thomas joined BJP after leaving Congress

References

Athletes (track and field) at the 1982 Asian Games Asian Games silver medalists for India Asian Games bronze medalists for India Medalists at the 1982 Asian Games Recipients of the Arjuna Award Indian female sprinters Asian Games silver medalists in athletics (track and field) {{India-athletics-bio-stub