[8] Her sister was married and living in Delhi, and Malleshwari moved to that city for better training when it became clear that she had the potential to become a great athlete.

In 1990, Malleshwari joined the national camp and four years later, she became the weight-lifting world championship winner in the 54-kg class.

In 2001, one year after winning the Olympic bronze medal in her sport, she became a mother with the birth of a son.

[1][10][11] Karnam Malleshwari and Tyagi currently lives in Yamunanagar, Haryana, with their son and in-laws in a joint family.

[citation needed] In June 2021, she was appointed as the vice-chancellor of Sports University, established by the government of Delhi.