Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, June 22: Around four years ago when Riya Mahajan started gym, she never imagined she would win not one, but two bronze medals at the National Level Powerlifting Championship.
With a remarkable display of strength and determination, a 22-year-old girl Riya Mahajan from Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur district won two bronze medals in the National Sub Junior and Junior Classic category and was ranked fourth overall in the country. The Championship was held between June 6 to 13 in Ranchi, Jharkhand.
Despite society’s stereotypes and prejudices against women athletes in strength-based sports, she remained undeterred, breaking down barriers and proving that gender is not a limiting factor when pursuing your passion.
“I think, if my family and father had not push me so much, I wouldn’t have been where I’m at,” said Riya, while speaking exclusively to Excelsior.
“I was 80 kilogram, when I started going to the gym during lockdown in 2019, being a small town girl; I was constantly receiving derision from people about my physique. My family supported me in my difficult times, when I was broken down from inside and my father became my inspiration, who pushed me to pursue my dream,” she said
“When I lost 25 kilograms in the gym, then I realized that I can do anything, and then I started Powerlifting and became stronger, more confident and started standing up for myself. My coaches, Nahid Shah and Duralab Kumar had a great role in my achievement,” she added.
Riya also won a bronze medal in the National Bench Press Championship which was held in Goa in the year 2022. Her outstanding achievements not only made her the centre of attention but also an inspiration to girls all over the country especially for girls from Jammu and Kashmir.
After completing Bachelor of Physical Education (B.P.Ed.) from Nagpur University, Riya is pursuing her Masters of Physical Education from Nagpur.
She said, “I wanted to become an International level Powerlifter without using steroids and have a dream to get training from Mukesh Singh Gahlot, an Indian bodybuilder and Powerlifter.”
She wanted the Government of J & K to promote and give all facilities to the powerlifting athletes as similar to other sportspersons.
Jatinder Kumar, her father, told Excelsior, “We are extremely delighted for her achievement as she brought laurels to Jammu and Kashmir. I am also a badminton player and my son Harsh Mahajan has played 14 nationals in badminton. My family is a sports family.”
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