T Rukmini Devi at the age of 64 is a champion at sports. From her school days to her college to now, sports has always been a big part of Rukmini Devi’s life. Between the years 1974 and 1980 she represented and captained the Andhra Pradesh Basketball Team and the Andhra Pradesh Handball Team and in the years 1978 & 79, she was part of the Indian Railways Basketball Team. Rukmini Devi moved to Chennai in the year 1980 and started working with the Indian Overseas Bank (IOB). It was in the years 1994 and 199, she represented and was also the captain of the IOB Basketball and the Tennikoit Team. Not only that, Mrs. Devi has also represented India at the Veterans Athletics (Now know Masters Athletic Meet) in Thailand in the year 2008, Malaysia in 2009, Taipei in 2012 and Singapore in 2016. In the 2016 Masters Athletic Meet she won a gold medal in pole vault, a silver medal in high jump and a bronze medal in hammer throw.
At the National Masters Athletic championship held at Bangalore in 2017 in the 60+ age category, Mrs. Devi won a Gold medal for High jump, pole vault, and 4×400 relay with a Silver Medal in Hammer throw and 4×100 relay. The laurels continued at the Nationals Championship held at Guntur from 6th to 10th February 2019 where she won three gold medals in the 60+ category for high jump, hammer throw and pole vault. Not only did Mrs. Devi win the gold medals, she also created a national record for pole vault covering a distance of 1.65m with the previous record being only 1m.
Mrs. Devi seems invincible at this point as she also won gold medals for hammer throw and triple jump and a silver medal for triple jump at the First Ever Women’s Athletic Nationals held at God on 29th & 30th June 2019.
Mrs. Rukmini Devi has received many Lions Awards at Club, District and International level. She has also received the Wisdom Award. Recently she was also honored with LifeTime Achievement Award in Sport by the All Indian Lioness Multiple and Lions Clubs.
Mrs Devi has also held the following posts.
- An active member and has also held all the post at club level and the post of the Zone Chairperson in Lions Club of Dist 324A1
- Alternate Treasurer of World Telugu Foundation
- Past Secretary of Women Wing –WTF and now the Vice President -WTF Women’s Wing.
- Past Treasurer for 6 years and now Secretary of Chennai Masters Athletic Assn.
- JT Secretary –Women’s Voluntary Service of TN
- Member of Dignity foundation
- Member of University Women’s Association
- Member of Monday Charity Club and Sanju Club (WIA)
- Member of Yoga, Exercise and Laughter club training at Natesan Park, T Nagar.
- Member Indian Red Cross Society.
- Fitness training at Andhra club GYM.
Mrs. Devi who has been passionate about dance from a young age has recently joined the Athmalaya School of Dance for Elders along with being trained for badminton and table tennis for the Veterans Group. Mrs. Devi is happily married to Mr. Chandrakanthan who is an advocate by profession and they have two daughters.
Retired as the Assistant Manager in the Public Relations Department at the Indian Overseas Bank, Chennai, Mrs. Devi completed her education in Bombay, Bangalore with an MSC in Physics from the Osmania University in Hyderabad. Mrs. Devi is also known to be passionate towards service to mankind who enjoys singing and dancing in her spare time. She has also learnt Kuchipudi from Guru Rajasulochana. Mrs. Devi also comperes for Doordarshan along with tournaments and meetings.
