Saraswati Saha

Saraswati Dey-Saha (born 23 November 1979) is an Indian former track and field sprinter from Chittamara, Belonia Tripura. She holds the current 200 metres national record of 22.82 seconds set at the National Circuit Athletic Meet held in Ludhiana on 28 August 2002.^[1] She broke the previous mark held by Rachita Mistry since July 2000. In doing so, Saraswati became the first Indian woman to break 23-second barrier in 200 metres.^[2] The highlight of her career was the gold medal she won at the 2002 Busan Asian Games.^[3]

Saraswati Saha

Personal information
Full name	Saraswati Dey-Saha
Nationality	India
Born	(1979-11-23) 23 November 1979 (age 45) Chittamara, Belonia, Tripura, India
Height	1.54 m (5 ft 1⁄2 in)
Weight	53 kg (117 lb; 8.3 st)
Sport
Country	India
Sport	Running
Event(s)	100 metres, 200 metres
Club	Indian Railways
Retired	Yes
Achievements and titles
Personal bests	100 m: 11.40 (Jakarta 2000) 200 m: 22.82 NR (Ludhiana 2000)
Medal record Women's athletics Representing  India Asian Games 2002 Busan 200 metres Asian Championships 1998 Fukuoka 4×100 m 2000 Jakarta 100 m 2000 Jakarta 4×100 m

Rachita represented India in 4×100 metres relay together with P. T. Usha, E. B. Shyla, and Rachita Mistry at the 1998 Asian Championships in Athletics where her team won the gold medal on way to setting the current national record of 44.43 s.^[4][5] Later in the 4 x 100 metres relay at 2000 Sydney Olympics her team - consisting of V. Jayalakshmi, Vinita Tripathi, and Rachita Mistry - clocked a time of 45.20 s in the first round. The team finished last in their heats.^[6][7] She also competed in 200 m at 2004 Athens Olympics, where she clocked a time of 23.43 s in the heats.^[8]

In 2002, she was conferred the Arjuna Award for her contribution to the Indian athletics.^[9] Saraswati quit competitive athletics in July 2006 owing to the injury to her Achilles tendon, occurred after the Busan Asian Games.^[10]

National titles

• All-India Open National Championships
  • 100 metres: 2000, 2002, 2003^[11]
  • 200 metres: 2002, 2003

International competitions

Year	Competition	Venue	Position	Event	Notes
Representing  India
1998	Asian Championships	Fukuoka, Japan	1st	4 × 100 m	NR
2000	Asian Championships	Jakarta, Indonesia	2nd	100 m

References

1. "Official Website of Athletics Federation of India: NATIONAL RECORDS as on 21.3.2009". Athletics Federation of INDIA. Archived from the original on 5 August 2009. Retrieved 2 September 2009.
2. "Saraswati breaks 23-second barrier". The Hindu. 29 August 2002. Archived from the original on 6 November 2012. Retrieved 3 October 2009.
3. "Saraswati Saha, Neelam J Singh win gold". indiaexpress.com. 10 October 2002. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 3 October 2009.
4. Vijaykumar, C.N.R (15 December 1998). "After the feast, the famine". www.rediff.com. Retrieved 4 September 2009.
5. "National records" (PDF). ATHLETICS FEDERATION of INDIA. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 17 August 2013.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
6. "Sydney2000 Results: Official Results - 4 X 100 METRES - Women - Round 1". IAAF. Archived from the original on 16 September 2009. Retrieved 3 October 2009.
7. "Saraswati Dey-Saha - Biography and Olympics results". Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 21 February 2020. Retrieved 3 September 2009.
8. "Olympic Games 2004 - Results 08-23-2004 - 200 Metres W Heats". IAAF. Archived from the original on 23 October 2012. Retrieved 3 October 2009.
9. "Arjuna Awardees". Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. Archived from the original on 25 December 2007. Retrieved 3 September 2009.
10. "Saraswati calls it quits". The Indian Express. 1 August 2006. Retrieved 3 October 2009.
11. "Indian Championships and Games". gbrathletics.com. Retrieved 6 September 2009.

External links

• Saraswati Saha at World Athletics
• Saraswati Saha at Olympedia
• Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Saraswati Saha". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 9 September 2013.