Ashwini Chidananda Shetty Akkunji (born 7 October 1987) is an Indian sprint athlete from Siddapura, Udupi who specializes in 400 metres.

[9] She grew up on her family's 5 acre farmland amidst Areca nut plantations along with her elder siblings a sister, Dipti and a brother, Amith.

[10] Earlier, Ashwini was employed with the Indian Railways, and as a manager in Corporation bank in Patiala, Punjab[11] and presently works as a coach in Sports Authority of India Bangalore.

[12] In July 2011 prior to Asian athletics championships in Kobe (Japan) she tested positive for anabolic steroids.

This comprised a cash payment of one hundred thousand Rupees, a 20 gramme gold medallion and a grant of priority in the allotment of house sites by the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA).