Padmini Thomas

{{short description|Indian athlete}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}

{{Infobox sportsperson

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| name = Padmini Thomas

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| nationality = Indian

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|sport= Athletics

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{{MedalSport|Women's athletics}}

{{Medal|Country|{{IND}}}}

{{MedalCompetition|Asian Games}}

{{MedalSilver|1982 New Delhi|4×100 m}}

{{MedalBronze|1982 New Delhi|400 m}}

}}

Padmini Thomas is an Indian athlete and a former president of the Kerala State Sports Council.{{Cite news |title=Former athlete and Padmini Thomas' husband Selvan passes away |language=en |url=https://english.manoramaonline.com/news/kerala/2020/05/06/former-athlete-padmini-thomas-husband-death.html |access-date=2020-05-12}} She won a Silver medal in 4 × 100 m relay and a bronze medal in the 400 metres in the 1982 Asian Games.{{cite web | url=https://indianathletics.in/medal-winners-of-asian-games/ | title=MEDAL WINNERS OF ASIAN GAMES | publisher=Athletics Federation of India | accessdate=13 July 2021}}{{cite book|title=Careers Digest|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_VnVAAAAMAAJ|accessdate=6 May 2018|year=1983|page=28}}{{cite book|author=Aprem (Mar)|title=Indian Christian who is who|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=u2s5AAAAMAAJ|accessdate=6 May 2018|year=1983|publisher=Bombay Parish Church of the East|pages=159–160}} She is a recipient of the Arjuna Award.{{Cite news |title=John Selvan's death leaves Kerala's sports fraternity shocked |language=en |url=https://english.manoramaonline.com/sports/other-sports/2020/05/07/john-selvan-athlete-death-padmini-thomas-sports-council.html |access-date=2020-05-12}}{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.com/tamil/sport-51557563 | title=இந்திய விளையாட்டு வீராங்கனைகள் இதுவரை வென்றுள்ள பதக்கங்கள் எத்தனை? | publisher=BBC Tamil | date=25 February 2020 | accessdate=13 July 2021}}

Thomas was married to John Selvan, a former Indian athlete, who died on May 6, 2020, succumbing to the injuries sustained from a fall from the terrace of their home in Thiruvananthapuram.{{Cite news |last=Daily |first=Keralakaumudi |title=Husband of sportsperson Padmini Thomas passes away |language=en |url=https://keralakaumudi.com/en/news/news.php?id=297716&u=husband-of-sportsperson-padmini-thomas-passes-away |access-date=2020-05-12}} Her daughter, Diana John Selvan and son, Dany John Selvan, are both sports persons in their own right. In March 2024, Thomas joined BJP after leaving Congress {{cite web|url=https://www.news18.com/politics/former-indian-athlete-padmini-thomas-leaves-congress-joins-bjp-8815552.html|title=Former Indian Athlete Padmini Thomas Leaves Congress, Joins BJP|date=14 March 2024 |publisher=News18}}