In a small village in Golaghat, Assam, a lady with extraordinary prowess was born in 1962. Fourth amongst 5 siblings, she had an idyllic childhood that concerned a whole lot of play along with her brothers and sisters. One might spot Ranjita Gogoi hopping, skipping, leaping and operating round on a regular basis.
In class and faculty too, she excelled in sports activities, turning into the volleyball captain and collaborating in numerous inter-collegiate sports activities. Nonetheless, sports activities took a backseat after life and completely different priorities took over publish marriage. One factor that remained fixed all through her life although was going to her fitness center.
The turning level that reworked this mom of two right into a champion was the inauguration of a swimming pool in 2011. Ever prepared for a problem, Ranjita, who was then in her late 40s, dove into the pool, which for her, brimmed with prospects. Quickly, she began competing in district, state, nationwide and worldwide stage competitions, rising victorious every time.
Entranced by the world of aggressive sports activities, she then tried her hand at powerlifting and arm wrestling too. The outcome — simply as you anticipated — earned her the title of ‘Iron Girl of Assam’ on the state stage.
“We’re extremely pleased with her. I keep in mind the primary time she gained a contest in swimming. It was someday in 2013-14 and we threw an enormous celebration for her with all family and mates. All of them had been so pleased with her and wished her to proceed and obtain greater issues. It was one of many happiest I had ever seen her,” says her son Anjumon, his voice brimming with delight.
We’ve all the time heard dad and mom talk about their kids’s achievements. It’s pleasantly stunning when the tables are turned, isn’t it?
Right here’s 62-year-old Ranjita’s inspiring story of attaining her goals, age no bar!
Turning down a authorities job
After finishing a Bachelor’s diploma (BSc) in agriculture, Ranjita received a authorities job. Publish marriage, she shifted to a close-by district of Jorhat, the place she continued her service. She then moved to the Philippines for a couple of years for her husband’s PhD diploma. At all times wanting to study, she pursued a course in pc programming there.
The younger couple was usually invited to pool events. Whereas everybody swam round and had a gala time, together with Mr Gogoi, the Mrs had to make use of a float. This gave start to a burning need to study swimming.
“It was virtually like an inferiority complicated. Whereas everybody loved themselves, I used to be caught within the sidelines. {Couples} swam collectively whereas I couldn’t be a part of my husband,” Ranjita shares with The Higher India.
This was within the early 90s and after they returned to India, the swimming dream remained unfulfilled as there was no swimming pool close by. By the point, their household too had grown and Ranjita juggled motherhood along with her job. Nonetheless, she needed to stop in a couple of years, a remorse which haunts Anjumon until date.
“I used to be in nursery college and would miss my mother after coming again dwelling. I might cry and inform her to be at dwelling attributable to which she stop her job and by no means joined again. I remorse it even immediately,” he says.
Ranjita stored herself busy tending to her lovely backyard, a interest that she continues even immediately amidst her hectic schedule. She was quickly stored busier by one other addition to the household, Anjumon’s brother.
“I all the time harboured an ambition to maneuver up in life and appeared for avenues,” says the champion.
Endurance is rewarding, as a possibility introduced itself when a Swimming Federation of India (SFI) pool opened in Jorhat in 2011.
Initially, she began swimming, first as a every day routine and shortly, competitively. Regardless of the late begin, her dedication paid off remarkably as she shortly moved up in championships.
When she gained the district-level competitors, she realised her expertise and began nurturing it.
Gold medals in several inter-district competitions made everybody — from her household to coaches — stand up and take discover of this ‘iron girl’.
And her laborious work paid off as she discovered herself successful greater competitions.
“Ranjita is extraordinarily proficient and constant. She by no means misses a session and may be very passionate in regards to the sport. She is motivated and retains in search of methods to enhance. Her consistency and never-say-no perspective has taken her all the way in which,” says Harekrishna Gogoi, her swimming coach.
You solely get higher with age
If ever you might use the adage ‘ageing like advantageous wine’, it could completely match this 62-year-old.
Her certificates inform her story a lot better than phrases might. From silver and bronze in her 50s, she switched to gold in her 60s! She gained 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 eager athlete, she even has a relay gold, lengthy soar silver and 60 m bronze in her kitty!
She made waves internationally as nicely within the Asia Pacific Masters Video games 2023 held in South Korea, successful a bronze in Butterfly Stroke and silver in Breast Stoke. Brief on funds for the journey as her husband is retired, Anjumon crowdfunded his mom’s journey, making her dream a actuality.
One would usually be very content material with these achievements however Ranjita is constructed in another way. A daily on the fitness center, she quickly began practising powerlifting and arm wrestling too.
“I appreciated powerlifting so I continued. I discover all these sports activities very attention-grabbing and I’m all the time recreation to strive one thing new,” Ranjita shares with childlike glee.
On the Nationwide Arm Wrestling Championship held by the Board of Management for Armwrestling in India (BCAI) in 2024, she gained a silver medal. In powerlifting too, she has gained gold medals on the nationwide stage 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 waking up at 4 am after all! She enjoys a cup of steaming chai or juice, publish which she heads for swimming from 5 – 6 am. That is adopted by an hour on the fitness center later. She trains for powerlifting and arm wrestling a couple of days within the week.
Throughout her free time, she tends to her vegetation along with her husband. “This routine has ensured that I don’t need to eat a single medication,” she says proudly.
This routine helps her preserve each her thoughts and physique match, maybe explaining her ever smiling and nice candour.
The grasp of many sports activities is now gearing up for the Worldwide Federation of Armwrestling (IFA) World Armwrestling Championship in Greece.
Ranjita’s story is an uplifting instance that proves that with willpower and keenness, you’ll be able to redefine your self at any time, no matter age. Her story is greater than sports activities, it’s additionally about breaking stereotypes and exhibiting that age and conventional roles don’t outline one’s capabilities.
Edited by Padmashree Pande, Photographs Courtesy Anjumon Gogoi
