Namrata Rathwa, a 23-year-old girl from Vadodara, found solace and strength in kickboxing following the untimely demise of her father. What began as a personal passion to overcome grief has transformed into her life’s purpose. In her first national competition held in Jalandhar, she secured two gold medals and one silver medal. Namrata will now represent India in an international kickboxing competition and aspires to participate in the Olympics.
Originally hailing from Chhotaudepur, Namrata settled in Vadodara with her mother and younger brother. After completing her B.E. in Electrical from Babaria Institute, she set her sights on a career in kickboxing. Her recent achievement in the National Kickboxing Championship 2023, where she clinched gold in Light Contact and Point Fight categories, followed by silver in Point Five in the Minus 55 weight class, has brought immense pride to her parents and community. Despite facing opposition and obstacles, Namrata remained steadfast in pursuing her dreams.
“After the sudden loss of my father, who worked with the GEB, the responsibility of caring for my mother and younger brother fell upon me. To ensure their safety and my own, I turned to kickboxing. Training under Coach Siddharth Bhaleghare, I silently pursued my passion, anticipating resistance from my conservative family. After one and a half years of training, winning my first gold medal at the national level has been a significant milestone. I will now represent India in the international competition in Portugal later this year. My mother was initially surprised but now feels proud of my achievements. Those who once opposed my decision are now proud of me,” Namrata shared, her eyes shining with determination. Her mother works as the head nurse at SSG Hospital.
In addition to her sporting pursuits, Namrata is also preparing for the Staff Selection Board exams with aspirations for a government job. “My ultimate goal is the Olympics, and I am giving my all to reach that stage. Qualifying for the international kickboxing competition in Portugal marks the first milestone in my career. I am determined to win there and bring myself closer to realizing my dream. I also aim to secure a government job through the sports quota, as it would enable me to balance both my aspirations,” Namrata explained.
Her coach, Siddharth Bhaleghare, praised her unwavering dedication to the sport. He noted that in a short span of time, Namrata has developed into a world-class player, consistently performing well at the district, state, and now national levels. Her hunger and passion for success will undoubtedly propel her towards a successful career.
Alongside Namrata, three other players—Akash Chavan, Ishita Gandhi, and Harshit Vyas—also clinched gold medals in the same tournament, securing their qualification for the international competition in Portugal.
