In a small village in Golaghat, Assam, a woman with peculiar prowess was once born in 1962. Fourth among 5 siblings, she had an idyllic adolescence that concerned numerous play along with her brothers and sisters. One may just spot Ranjita Gogoi hopping, skipping, leaping and working round always.
In class and school too, she excelled in sports activities, turning into the volleyball captain and taking part in more than a few inter-collegiate sports activities. Then again, sports activities took a backseat after existence and other priorities took over submit marriage. Something that remained consistent all the way through her existence although was once going to her health club.
The turning level that remodeled this mom of 2 right into a champion was once the inauguration of a swimming pool in 2011. Ever able for a problem, Ranjita, who was once then in her overdue 40s, dove into the pool, which for her, brimmed with probabilities. Quickly, she began competing in district, state, nationwide and world point competitions, rising victorious each and every time.
Entranced by way of the sector of aggressive sports activities, she then attempted her hand at powerlifting and arm wrestling too. The outcome — simply as you anticipated — earned her the name of ‘Iron Woman of Assam’ on the state point.
“We’re extremely happy with her. I be mindful the primary time she received a contest in swimming. It was once someday in 2013-14 and we threw a large birthday celebration for her with all family and pals. All of them have been so happy with her and sought after her to proceed and succeed in larger issues. It was once some of the happiest I had ever observed her,” says her son Anjumon, his voice brimming with delight.
We’ve at all times heard folks discuss their youngsters’s achievements. It’s pleasantly sudden when the tables are became, isn’t it?
Right here’s 62-year-old Ranjita’s inspiring story of accomplishing her desires, age no bar!
Turning down a central authority activity
After finishing a Bachelor’s stage (BSc) in agriculture, Ranjita were given a central authority activity. Publish marriage, she shifted to a close-by district of Jorhat, the place she persisted her carrier. She then moved to the Philippines for a couple of years for her husband’s PhD stage. All the time keen to be informed, she pursued a direction in pc programming there.
The younger couple was once frequently invited to pool events. Whilst everybody swam round and had a gala time, together with Mr Gogoi, the Mrs had to make use of a waft. This gave beginning to a burning want to be informed swimming.
“It was once nearly like an inferiority advanced. Whilst everybody loved themselves, I used to be caught within the sidelines. {Couples} swam in combination whilst I couldn’t sign up for my husband,” Ranjita stocks with The Higher India.
This was once within the early 90s and once they returned to India, the swimming dream remained unfulfilled as there was once no swimming pool within reach. By the point, their circle of relatives too had grown and Ranjita juggled motherhood along with her activity. Then again, she needed to hand over in a couple of years, a feel sorry about which haunts Anjumon until date.
“I used to be in nursery faculty and would pass over my mother after coming again house. I’d cry and inform her to be at house because of which she hand over her activity and not joined again. I feel sorry about it even these days,” he says.
Ranjita saved herself busy tending to her gorgeous lawn, a pastime that she continues even these days amidst her nerve-racking time table. She was once quickly saved busier by way of every other addition to the circle of relatives, Anjumon’s brother.
“I at all times harboured an ambition to transport up in existence and seemed for avenues,” says the champion.
Endurance is rewarding, as a possibility offered itself when a Swimming Federation of India (SFI) pool opened in Jorhat in 2011.
First of all, she began swimming, first as a day-to-day regimen and shortly, competitively. Regardless of the overdue get started, her determination paid off remarkably as she briefly moved up in championships.
When she received the district-level festival, she realised her ability and began nurturing it.
Gold medals in several inter-district competitions made everybody — from her circle of relatives to coaches — rise up and take realize of this ‘iron woman’.
And her laborious paintings paid off as she discovered herself profitable larger competitions.
“Ranjita is terribly gifted and constant. She by no means misses a consultation and may be very the game. She is motivated and assists in keeping on the lookout for techniques to strengthen. Her consistency and never-say-no perspective has taken her the entire approach,” says Harekrishna Gogoi, her swimming trainer.
You simplest get well with age
If ever it’s worthwhile to use the adage ‘growing older like wonderful wine’, it could completely have compatibility this 62-year-old.
Her certificate inform her tale a lot better than phrases may just. From silver and bronze in her 50s, she switched to gold in her 60s! She received gold medals in several swimming competitions just like the 200m butterfly, 50m butterfly, 50m backstroke on the Pan India Masters Video games Federations 2024. A prepared athlete, she even has a relay gold, lengthy bounce silver and 60 m bronze in her kitty!
She made waves across the world as neatly within the Asia Pacific Masters Video games 2023 held in South Korea, profitable a bronze in Butterfly Stroke and silver in Breast Stoke. Brief on budget for the commute as her husband is retired, Anjumon crowdfunded his mom’s commute, making her dream a fact.
One would in most cases be very content material with those achievements however Ranjita is constructed in a different way. A typical on the health club, she quickly began practicing powerlifting and arm wrestling too.
“I favored powerlifting so I persisted. I to find these kind of sports activities very fascinating and I’m at all times sport to check out one thing new,” Ranjita stocks with childlike glee.
On the Nationwide Arm Wrestling Championship held by way of the Board of Regulate for Armwrestling in India (BCAI) in 2024, she received a silver medal. In powerlifting too, she has received gold medals on the nationwide point on the Nationwide Masters Video games held in Goa in 2024.
However the million greenback query is, how does she make time for all this?
By way of waking up at 4 am after all! She enjoys a cup of steaming chai or juice, submit which she heads for swimming from 5 – 6 am. That is adopted by way of an hour on the health club later. She trains for powerlifting and arm wrestling a couple of days within the week.
All the way through her unfastened time, she has a tendency to her crops along with her husband. “This regimen has ensured that I don’t must consume a unmarried medication,” she says proudly.
This regimen is helping her stay each her thoughts and frame have compatibility, in all probability explaining her ever smiling and delightful candour.
The grasp of many sports activities is now gearing up for the Global Federation of Armwrestling (IFA) International Armwrestling Championship in Greece.
Ranjita’s story is an uplifting instance that proves that with decision and keenness, you’ll be able to redefine your self at any time, irrespective of age. Her tale is greater than sports activities, it’s additionally about breaking stereotypes and appearing that age and conventional roles don’t outline one’s features.
Edited by way of Padmashree Pande, Pictures Courtesy Anjumon Gogoi