Rathod Vanita Photos | Express
Adilabad: Martial arts are often introduced to girls to protect them from crime and harassment, but a young woman from the quaint Molchandi village of Bazarathnoor upazila is breaking barriers and shattering stereotypes through her passion for martial arts.What started as just a hobby ended up with Rathod Vanita winning a gold medal at a national-level tournament held recently in Ranchi, Jharkhand.
“I was shocked,” said Vanita, daughter of autorickshaw driver Rathod Pandurang and housewife Aruna, who is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree. TNIE She hopes to win an Olympic medal for India. “I would love to represent India at the Olympics one day and win honours for the country,” she says.
Under the tutelage of her dedicated coach, Veerash, she has trained in taekwondo, boxing and karate. Her path to mastery began during her school days, when she would train rigorously morning and evening alongside her studies. Though societal norms discouraged girls from venturing outside the village, Vanita's family was on her side, encouraging her to pursue martial arts while still prioritizing her education.
Talking about her education, she said, “My family wanted me to study and take up a central government job. During my degree, I participated in many tournaments and even served as an umpire in a few tournaments.”
She recently won a gold medal in boxing in the 75kg category at a national championships in Jharkhand and a silver medal in taekwondo at a university-level championships in Haryana.
While Vanita has her eye on Olympic glory, she also wants to boost her family's morale and inspire future generations, and she believes government support and encouragement is paramount to foster the development of martial arts, especially among girls.
Vanita shares her journey and emphasises the importance of parental encouragement and sports education for girls. Coach Veerash echoes her sentiments and urges parents to nurture their children's sporting talent alongside their academic studies as it not only provides employment opportunities but also equips them with essential life skills.
