Kavita Raut Tungar
A Nashik Girl Who Represented India at the Olympics
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Kavita Raut Tungar is an acclaimed long-distance runner, who has significantly impacted Indian athletics with her remarkable performances. Born on May 5, 1985, in the tribal village of Sawarpada near Nashik, Maharashtra, Kavita is affectionately known as the ‘Sawarpada Express’.
Kavita began competing in national events at a young age, winning several titles. Her breakthrough came at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, where she earned a historic bronze medal in the 10,000 meters—this was the first individual track medal by an Indian woman at the Commonwealth Games. Her success continued at the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, where she secured a silver medal in the 10,000 meters and a bronze in the 5,000 meters.
Aside from her international accolades, Kavita also shattered the national records for the 10 km road race and the half marathon, with record times of 34:32 for the 10 km and 1:12:50 for the half marathon, records that were later surpassed by Preeja Sreedharan in 2010 and Suriya Loganathan in 2017, respectively. Kavita represented India in the full marathon at the 2016 Rio Olympics, alongside O.P. Jaisha, another prominent long-distance runner from Kerala, although both did not finish in the top 50.
Beyond her competitive career, Kavita has been honored with several awards, including the prestigious Arjuna Award in 2012 for her contributions to Indian sports. Recently, Nashik celebrated her contributions by unveiling a statue at Marathon Square, an event attended by local dignitaries that commemorated her sporting achievements and aimed to inspire future generations to pursue athletics.
Today, Kavita works with the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and is married to Mahesh Tungar. She continues to be involved in the athletics community, encouraging young athletes and sharing her expertise. Her journey from the rural tracks of Nashik to the podiums of international arenas remains an inspiring narrative of determination and resilience, setting a benchmark for aspiring athletes across the nation.
