Mercy Kuttan

{{Infobox sportsperson

| name = Mercy Kuttan

| image = Mercy_kuttan1.jpg

| imagesize = 192px

| caption = Mercy Kuttan

| fullname = Mercy Matthews-Kuttan

| nicknames =

| nationality = Indian

| sport = Track and field

| event = 400 metres, Long jump

| club =

| collegeteam =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1960|01|01}}

| birth_place = Kerala, India

| residence =

|retired=

| death_date =

| death_place =

| height =

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| country = India

|medaltemplates={{MedalSport | Women's Athletics}}

{{MedalCountry | {{IND}} }}

}}

Mercy Kuttan (born 1 January 1960) is a former Indian track and field athlete. She was the first Indian woman long jumper to cross six meters.{{cite news

|title = No 'Mercy' when it comes to hard work

|url = http://www.hindu.com/2009/06/10/stories/2009061060161800.htm

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090614040858/http://www.hindu.com/2009/06/10/stories/2009061060161800.htm

|url-status = dead

|archive-date = 14 June 2009

|date = 10 June 2009

|newspaper = The Hindu

|accessdate = 2009-06-16

}} In 1989, Mercy received Arjuna Award for her contribution to the Indian athletics.{{Cite web|url=http://yas.nic.in/yasroot/awards/arjuna.htm#Athletics|title=Arjuna Awardees|date=25 December 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071225221945/http://yas.nic.in/yasroot/awards/arjuna.htm#Athletics |accessdate=6 May 2023|archive-date=25 December 2007 }}{{Cite web|url=http://sportscouncil.kerala.gov.in/|title=Kerala State Sports Council|website=Kerala State Sports Council|accessdate=6 May 2023|archive-date=11 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191211132604/http://sportscouncil.kerala.gov.in/|url-status=dead}}

Career

Mercy was born in Kerala; her first international success came in 1981 Asian Championships in Athletics when she won the double bronze in the long jump and 4 x 400 metres relay. In the next year at 1982 Asian Games when she won a silver medal in the long jump.{{cite news|publisher=Deccan Herald|title=Mercy Kuttan Athletic Academy launched|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/7547/mercy-kuttan-athletic-academy-launched.html|date=11 June 2009|accessdate=2009-06-20}} She represented India in long jump at 1983 World Championships in Athletics, but did not qualify for the final round.{{cite web |url=http://www2.iaaf.org/results/past/WCH83/data/W/LJ/Rq.html |title=Past Results - 1st IAAF World Championships in Athletics Helsinki |publisher=International Association of Athletics Federations |accessdate=2009-06-20 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090823234826/http://www2.iaaf.org/results/past/WCH83/data/W/LJ/Rq.html |archivedate=2009-08-23 }} Mercy has the distinction of being the first woman from Kerala to win a medal in the Asian Track and Field meet. Her personal best in long jump is 6.29 m.{{citation needed|date=April 2013}} In the latter stage of her career she switched to sprint and started competing in 400 metres. She competed in 400 metres at 1988 Seoul Olympics and managed to reach the second round.{{cite news|publisher=Sportstar|title=India at the Games|date=2 August 2008}}

Personal life

Mercy is married to Murali Kuttan, a former 400 metres national champion and is the mother of two sons, Suraj Kuttan and Sujith Kuttan. Mercy and Murali were the first Indian athletic couple to be national champions and win Asian medals.{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2009/08/22/stories/2009082253130800.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107102146/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2009/08/22/stories/2009082253130800.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-11-07|title=Right on Track|date=2009-08-22|newspaper=The Hindu|accessdate=2009-10-10|location=Thiruvananthapuram}} Murlai took the role of the coach and had influenced Mercy to shift from long jump to 400 metres. Both Mercy and Murali worked for Tata Steel, Jamshedpur. They are currently{{when|date=April 2018}} running the "Mercy Kuttan Athletics Academy" in Kochi.{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2009/06/12/stories/2009061256101800.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090616103945/http://www.hindu.com/2009/06/12/stories/2009061256101800.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2009-06-16|title=Sports hostel status for Mercy Kuttan's academy |date=2009-06-12|newspaper=The Hindu|accessdate=2009-10-10}}

Achievements

;National Level

1976 – 78—National School games champion in long jump
1979 – 80—All India Inter-University champion in 100 m, 200 m, and long jump
1979 – 87—National Champion in long jump
1988—National Champion in 400 meters

;International Level

1980—Won Gold medal in long jump, 4 x 400 m and 4 x 100 m relay in Pakistan National Games at Lahore
1981—Represented India in World Spartakyad in Moscow in 1981
1981—Won Bronze Medal in long jump and 4 x 400 m relay in Asian track and field meet in Tokyo
1982—Won Silver Medal in long jump in the 9th Asian Games in New Delhi
1982—Represented India in Commonwealth Games in Brisbane, Australia
1983—Represented India in long jump in the First World Athletic Meet at Helsinki
1983—Represented India in Asian track and field meet in Kuwait
1986—Represented India in long jump in the 10th Asian Games at Seoul
1987—Won Gold Medal in long jump in the SAF Games in Calcutta
1988—Represented India in 400 m and 4 x 400 m relay in Seoul Olympics
1989—Won Gold Medal in 4 × 400 m relay in the Asian track and field at New Delhi

;Other distinctions

Captain of the Indian Team at the First World Athletic Championship.
First Woman from India to participate in World Athletic Championship.
First Indian Woman to cross 6 meters in long jump in India.
National Record holder in long jump for seven years from 1980 – 87.
National School record holder for 19 years.
National University record holder for 27 years.
1st Indian woman athlete to win medals at national and international level in both track and field events.
First Couple (Murali Kuttan) from India to win Asian Games individual medals.