Mary D'Souza Sequeira
Mary D'Souza Sequeira (born 18 July 1931) is an Indian female Olympian who competed internationally in track and field and field hockey. She competed in the women's 100 metres at the 1952 Summer Olympics.[1] D'Souza won a bronze medal in the 200 metres and a silver medal in the 4x100m relay at the 1951 Asian Games with Pat Mendonca (her cousin), Banoo Guzdar and Roshan Mistry.[2]
 The President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee presenting the Dhyan Chand Award to Ms. Mary D’souza Sequeira for Athletics, at the National Sports & Adventure awards ceremony, at Rashtrapati Bhawan, in New Delhi on 31 August 2013 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Mary D'Souza Sequeira | |||||||||||||||||||
| Nationality | Indian | |||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 18 July 1931 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Employer | Indian Railways | |||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Track and field | |||||||||||||||||||
| Event(s) | Sprint | |||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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D'Souza won a gold medal in the 1954 Asian Games in Manila in the 4x100m relay, with Stephie D'Souza, Violet Peters and Christine Brown in a time of 49.5 seconds.
She held the Asian records in 200 and 200 meters in 1956. Was selected to go to the Melbourne Olympics, but the Indian Government said they had no funds for a women's team.
She is the First Indian Double International. Played Field Hockey for India in 1953 in Folkestone, England, In 1956 in Australia, IWFHA International Tournament and in test matches vs Japan and Ceylon.
Career
In 1951, D'Souza competed in the First Asian Games in New Delhi, winning a silver medal in the 4x100 meter relay and a bronze in the 200 meters. First Indian Female Team Asian Games.[3]
In the Second Asian Games in Manila in 1954 she won a gold medal in the 4x100 meter relay. 1954 Asian Games medal table First Indian Female Gold Medal Asian Games.
Indian national records in track and field from 1951-1957 100 meters, 200 meters and 80m hurdles. Asian Record Holder 12.3 secs 100 meters and 12.5 secs 200 meter’s.
First Female Track and Field contingent to go to the Olympics from India in 1952 in Helsinki. She competed in 100m and 200m. June 11,Hindustan Times 1952
Field Hockey Player with India’s First Women’s Field Hockey team, in the First IFWHA International Women's Field Hockey World Tournament in Folkstone, UK, 1963 [4]
In 1956 she represented India at the Australian International Women's Field Hockey Tournament. She was the top scorer for India in goals in the tournament.[5]
Played India vs Ceylon matches, as right winger assisted in both goals[6]
1956 Melbourne Olympics selected to represent India did not go as India did not pay for female athletes to go.[7]
Indian Team who played in the Prime Ministers Defense Fund Field Hockey Tour 1961
India vs Ceylon ( Sri Lanka) Field Hockey Tour in India
India vs Japan in field hockey test matches touring India, 1964
Indian Railways Sports Officer; coached and recruited sportspersons for Indian Railways teams, conducted Inter Railway Tournaments.
District Commissioners Girl Guides(Scouts).
She earned the Dhyan Chand Award in 2013 from the Government of Inda.[8]
References
- Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Mary D'Souza Olympic Results". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
- D'Souza, Mary (13 August 2018). "Iconic Asian Games medals - Mary D'Souza's 1951 silver, bronze". ESPN. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
- "Asian Games Opened In Delhi". The Times. 5 March 1951.
- www.hockeymuseum.net/index.php/study-topic/the-1953-ifwha-tournament-in-folkestone
- "Sports & Pastime 21 April, 1956". Free Press Journal. 26 March 1956. "Hockey Australia History Project". Sydney Daily Mirror. 2 June 1956.
- Ceylon Observer 20 April, 1956, Ceylon Daily News April 25, 1956
- Ballarat, Australia Courier June 16,1956; The Sun, June 27, 1956;The Sun, Adelaide July 1, 1956
- "Hail Mary: Hockey player Mary D'Souza being honoured with Dhyan Chand Award". Daily News and Analysis. 1 September 2013.