India, March 9 -- Group Captain Asha T Jyothirmai was commissioned into the Indian Air Force on 20 Dec 1997as an Accounts Officer. Hailing from the city of Hyderabad, Telangana, the officer was an avid sportswoman since her schooling days, a nationalathlete who excelled in the event of Heptathlon (Athletics) at the National level for a period of more than 8 years before joining the Indian Air Force. A thorough professional in the finances of the Air Force, she chose to undertake additional duties and contributed immensely to promotion of sports and adventure.

In the year 1999, the officer, during her first posting to Agra, plummeted into the sport of skydiving. The very fluttering of the parachute entered into her mind and heartandat a v...