Sports Excellence & Leadership

The pride of Ethiraj College's sports legacy, Dipika Pallikal rose from the courts of Chennai to become the first Indian woman to break into the World Top 10 rankings in Squash.

Under the nurturing environment of the Physical Education Department at Ethiraj College for Women, Dipika honed the discipline, consistency, and competitive fire that defines a true champion.

She went on to receive the Arjuna Award (2012) and Padma Shri (2014) — two of India's most coveted sporting honours — cementing her status as a national icon.

R.V. Vishwa Priya is a testament to what structured coaching and institutional belief can achieve. A Ethiraj College alumna who carried the Indian flag with pride on the world stage.

She represented Indian Universities at the World University Games 2017 in Chinese Taipei — competing against the finest athletes from across the globe in track and field events.

Her journey from the college track to international competition is a story that directly reflects Dr. Uma Devi's mission: giving women athletes the platform they deserve.

R. Thanushree represents the new generation of Indian badminton — technically brilliant, mentally resilient, and internationally competitive, shaped from her student years at Ethiraj College.

She represented India at the Lining BWF World Junior Badminton Championship 2018 held in Markham, Canada — proving that world-class talent is cultivated right here in Chennai.

Her story is one of Dr. Uma Devi's most cherished legacies: finding raw talent, believing in it, and equipping it to shine on the world stage.

D. Devadharshini made history as the first Commonwealth International Judo Player from SDAT Tamil Nadu — a groundbreaking achievement in a state not traditionally associated with the sport of Judo.

Her rise through the ranks required not just physical excellence but the mental toughness to compete in an unfamiliar arena, far from the grassroots infrastructure most players take for granted.

She is proof that the right mentor and institution can unlock potential no one else believed existed — and Dr. Uma Devi was that catalyst.

M. Angel Joseph swept the international rowing circuits with a rare combination of grace and power, earning medals on two continents while representing Ethiraj College on the world stage.

She earned a Bronze Medal at Philippines and went on to claim the Gold Medal at the International Chinna Greek Regatta in Pakistan — two triumphs that made Tamil Nadu rowing proud.

Her success validated Dr. Uma Devi's belief that women's rowing in Tamil Nadu deserved the same resources and recognition as any mainstream sport.

In the annals of Madras University sports history, 2015–16 stands as a watershed year. Ethiraj College's women's football team achieved something no Madras University side had done before.

They won First Place in the All India Inter-University Football Tournament — a historic first for the university, achieved under the direct coaching and strategic leadership of Dr. Uma Devi's department.

This victory wasn't just a trophy. It was a statement: that given the right belief, resources, and leadership, women's football in Tamil Nadu could compete with and beat the very best in India.