Stephie D’Souza

Stephanie “Stephie” D’Souza, nee Sequeira (26 December 1936 – 11 September 1998) was a sportsperson who represented India in athletics and women’s hockey.

Stephanie “Stephie” D Souza, inheritablely Sequeira, was born on December 26, 1936. She studied at the Sardar Dastur Girls School at Pune, and later shifted to the Fergusson College to do her graduation.She worked with Central Railways (Pune Division). After her marriage, she shifted to Jamshedpur.

D’Souza was part of the Indian team that won the gold in the 4 100 m relay in the 1954 Asian Games and a bronze in 1958. She won a silver in the 200 m, creating an Asian record in the semifinal, and finished fourth in the 100 m in the latter competition. At one point, she held the national records in 100 m, 200 m, 400 m and 800 m.

She was eliminated in the first round of the 400 m in the 1964 Summer Olympics after finishing sixth in 58.0 seconds. She took part in the 100 yards and 220 yards sprints in the 1958 Commonwealth Games. D’Souza represented India in the first international women’s hockey tournament in London in 1953 and captained the side in 1961.

Stephie D’Souza was the first woman to win the Arjuna Award presented by the Government of India. She died in Jamshedpur (Jharkhand) at the age of 61.

National and International Competitions