DEHRADUN: Pratibha Thapliyal, a 41-year-old homemaker from Pauri Garhwal in Uttarakhand, has won gold at the 13th national senior women’s bodybuilding championship, held recently by the Indian Body Building Federation in Ratlam, Madhya Pradesh.
A mother of two teens, Pratibha achieved the feat in only her second event and just a couple of years after taking up the sport.
Five years ago, however, she was struggling.
“My thyroid levels had risen to 50 against the level of five. The doctor advised me to work out. I joined a gym with my husband Bhupesh and lost 30kg in a few months,” she told TOI on Friday.
Pratibha participated in her first competition last year in Sikkim as “Uttarakhand’s first female professional bodybuilder” and finished fourth.
‘Attitude of those who taunted me changed after I bagged gold’
“I was hesitant to take up the sport at first, given the costume competitors are required to wear. Actually, when
I first started bodybuilding, the women in my neighbourhood taunted me. Their attitude has changed now that I’ve won gold,” a smiling Pratibha said.
At the gym, it was her fitness-enthusiast husband, Bhupesh, who first noticed that her muscles had developed and she
was good at lifting weights.
“He then asked me to take up the sport and assured me full support,” she said.
Bhupesh, who is also her trainer and dietician, expressed, “During her school and college days in Rishikesh, she had played volleyball and cricket. She even led the state volleyball team before we got married. So, when I asked her to get into bodybuilding after seeing the response of her muscles to weight training at the gym, it seemed like a natural progression.”
He added, “Failing to get a podium finish in Sikkim, Pratibha worked very hard and spent seven hours at the gym daily with a strict diet. As a result, she won the gold in just her second event. We hope the state recognises this and helps her train better.”
Her sons, aged 15 and 17, study in class 10 and 12 at a school in Dehradun. The gold medallist is now gearing up for the Asian and world championships and hopes to repeat her feat.
A mother of two teens, Pratibha achieved the feat in only her second event and just a couple of years after taking up the sport.
Five years ago, however, she was struggling.
“My thyroid levels had risen to 50 against the level of five. The doctor advised me to work out. I joined a gym with my husband Bhupesh and lost 30kg in a few months,” she told TOI on Friday.
Pratibha participated in her first competition last year in Sikkim as “Uttarakhand’s first female professional bodybuilder” and finished fourth.
‘Attitude of those who taunted me changed after I bagged gold’
“I was hesitant to take up the sport at first, given the costume competitors are required to wear. Actually, when
I first started bodybuilding, the women in my neighbourhood taunted me. Their attitude has changed now that I’ve won gold,” a smiling Pratibha said.
At the gym, it was her fitness-enthusiast husband, Bhupesh, who first noticed that her muscles had developed and she
was good at lifting weights.
“He then asked me to take up the sport and assured me full support,” she said.
Bhupesh, who is also her trainer and dietician, expressed, “During her school and college days in Rishikesh, she had played volleyball and cricket. She even led the state volleyball team before we got married. So, when I asked her to get into bodybuilding after seeing the response of her muscles to weight training at the gym, it seemed like a natural progression.”
He added, “Failing to get a podium finish in Sikkim, Pratibha worked very hard and spent seven hours at the gym daily with a strict diet. As a result, she won the gold in just her second event. We hope the state recognises this and helps her train better.”
Her sons, aged 15 and 17, study in class 10 and 12 at a school in Dehradun. The gold medallist is now gearing up for the Asian and world championships and hopes to repeat her feat.
