WAYANAD DISTRICT SPORTS COUNCIL

Orchatteri Puthiya Veetil Jaisha is an Indian athlete from Kerala. The athlete competes in the marathon (5000 m). The athlete has earned two bronze & also she holds a national record to her name. The athlete from Kerala had an inspirational journey. She started her career at the age of 22. Her journey was full of struggles but she did not fail to reach the place where she donned her nation’s colours at the Olympics. India’s Marathon champion, Jaisha, got qualified for Rio Olympics when she was 33. She overcame every hardship in her life. Jaisha fought all the battles that came her way & unfolded into an exceptional athlete. Her childhood in utmost poverty helped her to build a successful athletic career.

Thanackal Gopi is an Indian athlete who represented Indian in 10,000 meters Track & Field marathon event at the 2016 Rio Olympics. He was the first and also the only Indian athlete to have won gold medal at the Asian Marathon Championship. Thonakal is currently employed as a Hawaldar at the Indian Army Artillery Centre in Hyderabad. Thonakal Gopi was born on 24 may, 1988 in a tribal family of Wayanad district of Kerala, India. Coming from a tribal family, Thonakal didn’t have big dreams. He completed his education from a Government school and would help his family in farming activities in his free time. During his school days, Gopi used to participate in various school athletic events. Gopi found his calling when one day his Physical Education teacher KP Vijayi took notice of his talent and since then he made sure that Gopi would come to practice daily. KP Vijayi was his first coach, the one who motivated him to dream big and made his family and nation proud.

In 1981, he won gold at the Power lifting National Championships with a national record.

Manjima Kuriakose had born in Manathavady village in district Wayanad of Kerala, is one of the greatest Indian Athlete who had spend over 15 years (1992 – 2007)