Annastasia became the first woman walker from Malaysia to qualify for the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. At the age of  21, she finished a creditable 24th out of 46 qualifiers with a national record of 45:47.00 in the 10km race.

Annastasia established a new national record in the 10km Race Walk with a time of 45:47 at the Atlanta Olympic Games in 1996, competing against more than 80 of the world’s best walkers.

Annastasia rewrote the national mark 13 times in four years and was dubbed the national record-breaking queen!

She called it a day after finishing fifth at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur before making a brief comeback at the 2001 SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur. 

It is worth mentioning that Annastasia Karen Raj was the last Malasyain Indian female to represent Malaysia in the Olympics. 

Annastasia Karen Raj is truly a national treasure that needs to be celebrated!