Bengaluru: Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar felicitated international athlete G.K. Vijayakumari of Mandya, who won gold medal in the 400 mts run at the recently held 1st Indian Open World Athletics Bronze Level Continental Tour at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar with a timing of 53.40 sec.

Speaking on the occasion, Dy.CM. Shivakumar hailed Vijayakumari’s achievements and promised to release a financial aid of Rs. 10 lakh for her training out of which Rs. 5 lakh would be released this year and Rs. 5 lakh next year.

Receiving the felicitation, Vijayakumari thanked Dy.CM. D.K. Shivakumar and MLC Dinesh Gooligowda for identifying her achievements and added that it would boost her confidence to scale much more heights in athletics.

A native of Gowdenahalli in K.R. Pet taluk of Mandya district, Vijayakumari had won gold in 4×100 mts relay and silver in 400 mts run at LUSOFONIA Games in 2014, gold in 4×400 mts relay at Asian Junior Games in 2014, bronze in 400 mts run at South Asian Games in 2019 and her latest achievement being gold in 400 mts run at 1st Indian Open World Athletics Bronze Level Continental Tour at Bhubaneswar. She has also won many gold, silver and bronze in athletic meets held at State and National levels.

Vijayakumari has also been honoured with Ekalavya Award, Jija Bai Award, Karnataka Olympic Association Award and Mandya District Rajyotsava Award.