Fact Check: Is shot-putter Krishna Jayasankar, first Indian woman to cross 17m mark, related to former India cricketer?

Indian shot-putter Krishna Jayasankar Menon recently made history by becoming the first Indian woman to cross the 17-metre mark in an indoor shot put meet in the United States. At just 23, she has been pushing boundaries in athletics with her grit and determination.

A viral claim circulating on social media suggested that the shot-putter is the daughter of former Indian cricketer Laxman Sivaramakrishnan. This claim is misleading, as Krishna has no relation to the veteran leg-spinner.

Who is Krishna Jayasankar related to?

Krishna is the daughter of C Jayasankar Menon, a former basketball player who served as captain of the Indian men's national basketball team, and Prasanna, who captained the Indian women's basketball team before coaching Southern Railways and serving as a national selector.

Growing up in a household steeped in basketball culture, she was surrounded by conversations about training, discipline, and coaching.

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But Krishna chose a different path, carving her own identity in athletics through shot put and discus throw. Her sister also competes in track and field, making sports a part of the household.

Where does Krishna compete now?

Krishna's first encounter with shot put came in class five at SBOA School and Junior College, when a PE teacher spotted her potential during a lunch break. At age 18, she left India to pursue training overseas and initially moved to Jamaica before settling in the US, where she now studies and competes at the collegiate level.

Her breakthrough moment arrived when she became the first Indian woman to qualify for the NCAA Indoor championships in track and field. She also received an NCAA Division I scholarship.

Krishna has been one of India's finest rising track and field athletes and represents a new generation of Indian talent determined to make its mark globally. She has set her sights firmly on the 2028 LA Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and World Championships.