There’s a certain confidence that comes from spending years pushing the limits of your sport. For Krishna Jayasankar Menon, it has meant breaking national records - not once but thrice, qualifying for the Asian Games 2026 and carrying the belief that her biggest moment is still to come. The Reliance Foundation-supported shot putter is entering a defining season, with the Asian Games ahead and her sights set firmly on a medal.
Krishna knows that getting to the start line is only one part of the story. With the Asian Games 2026 ahead, she is already thinking like a medal contender. For her, that ambition begins with the mind. ‘Track and field is 80 per cent mental and 20 per cent physical,’ she says.
Records make headlines. Qualifications become milestones. The hours that lead to them rarely get the same attention. Krishna speaks about the days when she does not want to wake up, train or push herself, then does it anyway. That consistency has become part of what defines her as an athlete.
Why One Negative Comment Can Stay With You Forever
For Krishna, the conversation around women’s bodies starts with something many women will recognise: how easily one negative comment can outweigh a hundred compliments. She reflects on the way society presents female athletes, particularly the expectation that an athlete should look a certain way.
The reality, she points out, is very different. Female athletes have different body types. They look different. They train differently. Their strength does not fit one visual template.
What Reliance Foundation Means To Her
Being supported by Reliance Foundation Youth Sports has given Krishna access to the ecosystem she needs to perform at the highest level. The support extends across her sporting journey, giving her the coaching, training environment and wider resources required to prepare for major international competition.
She also values the people around her. Training alongside national record holders gives her a daily reminder of the standard she is working towards. Her coach Steve brings knowledge and depth to her preparation, while the wider environment keeps her surrounded by athletes who show up, put in the hard work and keep raising their own standards.
For Krishna, that is what makes the support meaningful. It gives her the opportunity to focus on becoming a better athlete, with the right people, preparation and resources around her as she heads towards the Asian Games.
Now, the target is clear. Krishna has qualified for the Asian Games 2026. She wants to arrive as a medal contender. She has already shown what she can achieve. The next chapter is waiting.