Jaipur- Rajasthan’s own Pooja Bishnoi carved her name into the history of the Khelo India University Games (KIUG) 2025 by becoming the first athlete from the host state to win a medal in cycling.
Her silver in the women’s elite 30 km individual time trial on the Jaipur–Agra Highway was more than just a podium finish—it was a triumph over hardships, perseverance, and years of relentless effort.
At 22, Pooja, a farmer’s daughter from a small village in Bikaner, carried bib number 44 and the weight of a journey shaped by grit. Representing Maharaja Ganga Singh University, she transformed from an underdog into a history-maker as she clinched the first medal for Rajasthan at the seventh edition of KIUG.
The women’s 30 km Individual Time Trial flagged off with the usual burst of energy, but Pooja stunned everyone by taking an early lead. She completed the first 10 km lap ahead of the pack—her rhythm steady, her composure remarkable. Coaches were surprised, spectators captivated, sensing the making of a major upset.
But cycling rewards experience as much as speed. Meenakshi Rohilla of Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar—an accomplished international cyclist from the National Centre of Excellence, Patiala, decorated with medals from the Asia Cup and Asian Championships—began to close in during the later stages.
Meenakshi eventually clinched gold with a time of 45:31.907, while Pooja clocked 46:52.003 to secure silver—a result that echoed far beyond the finish line.
For Pooja, the medal symbolized more than a second-place finish. “I’m very happy with my result,” she said, her smile radiant. “I was leading after the first lap, but Meenakshi has great experience. I had raced 100 km just two days earlier, so there was some fatigue. Still, winning the first medal for my university in our home state’s first KIUG means a lot.”
Pooja’s cycling journey began when she was 16, encouraged by her elder brother, a former cyclist. The early years were filled with financial challenges, rigorous training, and moments of doubt.
“For the first two years, I often felt I had chosen the wrong sport,” she recalled. “But my family stood by me, and gradually things improved.”
A turning point came with the Asmita (Achieving Sports Milestone by Inspiring Women Through Action) scholarship, which supported her participation in zonal and national events. Pooja has received nearly ₹2 lakh through the program—money that helped her purchase essential equipment and uplift her training.
“For girls like me from poor families, even ₹10,000 matters,” she said. “Asmita and KIUG have given us opportunities we never had before.”
With cycling introduced as a medal sport at KIUG and Rajasthan hosting it for the first time, Pooja stands today not just as a silver medallist, but as an emblem of possibility—proof that determination can push boundaries, regardless of background.
Her silver shines like a beacon of hope, a reminder that India’s rural daughters too can pedal their way into national history.
With inputs from IANS