Home

10%

HER

By Veloscope

March 15^th, 2021

In a society where the majority of careers are decided before one has gained conciseness, to dare to break the mould and then go on to achieve a dream takes an immense amount of courage and stubbornness. Being a woman the challenges multiply, exponentially. This is our small tribute to a few women, who didn't just dream but showed how it's done.

"The future is now!"

Janani Anantha Kumar.

What does it take to become the best in your sport?

A vision, relentless hard work, a determination to overcome the lows, and unremitting support from the closest. All the factors have to fit the puzzle to make a champion. Janani moved back to India from Muscat, with her support system - her mother, Jaya Ananth Kumar, with the sole purpose of taking her badminton to greater standards in 2014. Jaya made the decision to be the pillar that Janani could build from and achieve her goals and beyond. 6 years down, she stands with a list of accolades and the Indian jersey to her name, at the age of 18!

So what does the future hold? Two International tournaments coming up in April and the country representation to look forward to. Well, that’s the thing, the future is now!

“The fire within!"

Lopamudra Thimmaiah

Lopamudra Thimmaiah grew up watching and admiring her father K.B. Thimmaiah compete as an International athlete in 400m hurdles. With inspiration within the house, her fascination with sports grew at an early stage. She began her sporting career as a track athlete; speed and stamina were always her allies. Her father became her inspiration and the first coach, as she developed in both athletics and basketball. Her school, Bishop Cottons made for the perfect foothold to develop her strengths which led to the first opportunity to represent India in Basketball. The first U-16 camp Lopa attended in 2013, she was picked in the team; a perfect start for which the foundation had been laid for years. As it is with life, hardships and success generally are close associates; she suffered an ACL injury in the U-18 Basketball camp and had to go into recovery.

Adversities test the real you and often determine your success. The fire within her kept the goal in focus and the hurdles often fall when you keep knocking at them. 2019 saw her come back from the injury stronger and earn her place in the Senior National Team for FIBA Women’s Asia Cup.

The beginning.

“Against all odds!"

Michel Castanha

Michel Castanha was born in a family of musicians, in a small village in Goa. Growing up in the countryside, her introduction to the beautiful game was her father playing football in the village. The game got her interest, and she got a purpose. This journey though would have all the odds against her, right from the beginning. Being the only daughter of the house, in a village in India, doesn’t really constellate a great deal of encouragement to go out there and follow your passion.

But with a purpose, there are always ways. Michel joined her school football team without informing her family and that marked the beginning of her sporting story. Her playing at school and local tournaments quickly gained attention. When the family read her name in the newspapers and words got around appreciating her, it became evident to them that she was meant for the game. She got her breakthrough selection for the U-19 National team in 2010 which led her on a long journey to making it into the Senior National Squad in 2017!

All the barriers and hardships crossed; there was nothing to hold her back post that. She has been a constant part of the National team and Gokulam Kerala FC and gives back to the sport by serving as Head Coach for U-14 Girl’s South Academy for Goa Football Development Council."

“View from the top”

Samira Abraham

Being outdoors and playing sport is where I have felt alive and free. Growing up, I didn’t fit into the environment I was in, except when it came to sport. Track and field and swimming were the competitive sports I did during school and always had the desire to be an athlete.

At 15 due to anxiety, I lost a lot of weight and a lack of awareness of mental health led to me wrongly getting diagnosed as anorexic, and sport which was my breathing space was taken away as a protective measure.

The love for sport however still grew and I continued working on my fitness even though I didn’t know what I was doing it for. It’s fun to see what you’re capable of!

At 27 I took a career break. I came across an old letter from my school principal saying, " if fate hadn’t intervened this girl would be representing India at the Olympics."

That changed something in me.

I went to watch a cycling race in Bangalore, it was an individual time trial, it bored me to watch it and I wanted to race the next one.

Two months later I raced my first Cycling Nationals and came third in the Individual Time Trial. That was the deciding point for me that I would like to give this a try: to be the best in the country and beyond that.

My family couldn’t understand it but they were with me.

The journey to becoming the Double National Champ involved the high highs and the low lows: It was me being laser-focused on this goal that came at the cost of not having space for anything else in my life. 7 months of injuries and illness and still believing that you can achieve this goal, being away from my dog who was falling sick without me, heading out to train early in the dark and getting back home to an empty apartment day in and out, chronic fatigue which you are unaware of at that moment because of the drive within you and some beautiful relationships built on the way!

I got to experience the childhood dream of being a competitive athlete and through it, I realized that it was just one chapter of my life, not the whole life. It’s okay to change carers even if you are good at something. There is so much that life offers if we are willing to let go of the limitations.

"The balance"

Nabila Birjis

"Pehele padhayi baad mein khelo" - is what my mother said. Which translated to - become an architect first and then you can pursue sports. That explains why I took up jujitsu so late, at the age 25!

Anyone who knows me from school would know my love for sports, which took a backseat somewhere as I worked towards becoming an architect. I loved the work but there was something integral missing and it did take me a while to figure out what exactly!

I took up various activities such as yoga, cycling, and bike riding before picking up Jujitsu, I knew that I had found something special. I quit my job and joined another place close to my training center. I started competing and fell in love with the sport even more.

The biggest challenge was balancing between Jujitsu and architecture since I love them both, there are only so many hours in a day. I finally made the decision and went all in, dedicating myself to the Jujitsu Nationals which was also a selection camp for Asian Games 2018.

All these factors led me to start an architectural practice of my own. It's been two years now - I have with me the two things that I cherish, practicing this wonderful sport and architecture. I have finally struck a balance."

Button Label

Dream Runners Half Marathon

HER

THE TALE UNFOLDS

Kashmir to Kanyakumari, RAINing extreme endurance

Here for the long haul.

A students organised run for the rights of girls

A heritage run 150 years in the making

The season that was