Thiruvananthapuram: India's top woman rower Sobhini and national champion since 1997 was found dead having consumed poison at her residence at Kuttanad in Alappuzha district, police said.

Belonging to a farmers' family of poor means, the 21-year-old rower was believed to have been facing financial burden caused by the treatment of a backbone ailment.

A member of Sports Authority of India (SAI) Centre at Alappuzha since 1996, Sobhini had been on medical leave for the last five months.

She was found dead yesterday (Nov 14, 20040 at her residence at Mankombu at Kuttanad.

Sobhini had been the national champion since 1997 and had won more than 30 medals in various competitions including four international events. She had participated in the 2001 in Beijing Asian Rowing championship and finished fourth in Busan Asiad.

She was selected to represent Kerala in the Pune open rowing championship slated for February next.

According to Kerala Sports Council (KSC) sources, she was awaiting the State's cash awards worth Rs 2.5 lakh for her performance in various events since 2002.

KSC president C Mohanachandran expressed deep grief at the death of Sobhini.