Turning dreams into reality! - Shraddha Rangarh

"A dream doesn't become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination, and hard work." - Colin Powell

A 19-year-old girl living in the small town of Faridabad in Haryana proved that right. Shraddha Rangarh is an accomplished international mixed martial artist doing taekwondo since she was 10. Not just taekwondo, this wonder girl has been up for a wide range of mixed martial art combats like kickboxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Sanshu, Judo, Karate, and even Kalaripayattu since 2020.

She grew up in a traditional Pahadi family, and her parents never took her passion for sports seriously, as she had abandoned cricket when she was enrolled at 9. While at it, she grew her interest in boxing, where she was the only girl among all the boys. After playing for district and state-level games, her fascination with different types of kicks she watched the international players do, got her enrolled in taekwondo in 7th grade. While registered in taekwondo, her coach warned her about the injuries that would incur during the play. It was her first fight when she realized the warning that her coach had given. Despite being discouraged by all the people around her, be it her boy colleagues or her family, she stood her ground and continued to pursue her journey towards excellence.

The young lass is an example of dedication. Her day starts at around 3:50 am with her grandmother. As a responsible young girl, she helps her with the household chores and leaves at 4:30 am for her morning run which is not less than 5 km every day. Post the morning running session, her entire day looks like a hustle between the MMA academy and the gym. Strength training, stamina workout, high and low-intensity workouts, sparring and fighting sessions at the academy, and mental exercises keep her day busy. Most of all, she gives importance to the mental exercises which consist of visualization and meditation that keeps her going. Apart from all of this, she has a training room in her house too.

In this era of smartphones and social media, Shraddha is setting an example of hard work, perseverance, and consistency.

The first time’s a charm

Shraddha played her first taekwondo tournament at district level when she was 11 and bagged the gold medal. She knocked out her opponent who was a national champion. It was then she realized her strength and calibre.

“All I remember is the nervousness surrounding me while climbing the arena. I knew I had to kick hard enough to win and I kicked hard enough to knock out my opponent.” Eventually, she won the state and national games preceding the district tournament. “I remember that was the first and the last time my father attended my match. He got so emotional seeing me fight,” reminisces the champion.

This first win was so important in her life that it gave her a push to work harder and achieve more medals. Winning had become her habit and she ensured she never failed to win the gold medal.

“I was never satisfied with silver or bronze medals. I always aimed and aim for a gold medal. So far my achievements seem smaller to me when I think of everything that I yearn to achieve further. I have become a national champion but my end goal is to be a world champion and make my parents and country proud,” cherished the young champion.

Asking her whether any kind of over-confidence emerged post winning the first-ever tournament, her prompt reply was, “There was no over-confidence but self-confidence that emerged post that victory. I played my game well and my competition is always with myself.”

Shraddha played her first taekwondo tournament at district level when she was 11 and bagged the gold medal. She knocked out her opponent who was a national champion. It was then she realised her strength and calibre. “All I remember is the nervousness surrounding me while climbing the arena. I knew I had to kick hard enough to win and I kicked hard enough to knock out my opponent.” Eventually, she won the state and national games preceding the district tournament. “I remember that was the first and the last time my father attended my match. He got so emotional seeing me fight,” reminisces the champion. This first win was so important in her life that it gave her a push to work harder and achieve more medals. Winning had become her habit and she ensured she never failed to win the gold medal. “I was never satisfied with silver or bronze medals. I always aimed and aim for a gold medal. So far my achievements seem smaller to me when I think of everything that I yearn to achieve further. I have become a national champion but my end goal is to be a world champion and make my parents and country proud,” cherished the young champion.

Asking her whether any kind of over-confidence emerged post winning the first-ever tournament, her prompt reply was, “There was no over-confidence but self-confidence that emerged post that victory. I played my game well and my competition is always with myself.”

Martial Art - A Mental Art

“Mixed martial arts is not just about physical strength but focuses more on your mental strength, how much are you ready to face your opponent? The opponent could be stronger than you physically, but if you are mentally stronger you could even beat them,” said the young champion. “As a girl, there are times when you might get your menses in the middle of your match. But you cannot give up on your match for it. You have to stay strong and focussed until you win the match. That is the mental training martial arts provide you,” added Shraddha.

Shraddha considers taekwondo as the superior form of martial arts as it focuses on all aspects of training like stamina, agility, strength, and endurance, although currently, she stands as a national champion in kickboxing in free-style and point fights. In her opinion, knowing all forms of martial arts has benefits of its own. One could take the best of the moves of each art form and strategize accordingly to beat the opponent. Also, it helps to understand the strategies of fights at the international level.

Dealing with the failures

Shraddha had been a headstrong girl since childhood. She has always been that rebellious kid in the family. “It was never for my parents to enrol me in taekwondo or any other sport. There was no serious encouragement from my family. Though it was a negative experience, it encouraged me to do better each time,” informed Shraddha.

Dealing with the failures is never easy for anyone. People claim to be mentally strong but let’s face it, deep down they are hurt. “It is very simple to advise people to stay strong and face failures but when those failures strike you, you are shattered. No amount of counselling can heal that. Of course, time heals everything. But the harsh truth is that failures hurt,” the young girl dropped a truth bomb. The year 2019 was a tough one for the champion. She faced continuous failures. She lost even the simplest of the matches. After a series of victories when she started losing, it was a smack on her face. She worked harder than ever, as much as 12 hours a day. “I was devastated and had just one thought of how to win physically. It was then that I understood the importance of mental training. I got enrolled in an institute called Kick Dojang Mixed Martial Arts Academy, Kerala. And Khelo India, where they taught the importance of mental training. Eventually, my focus returned to the game well and won the matches post that.” The importance of mental training has been well-defined by this young player.

Mental strength defines your physical strength and it can enhance it. Winning matches is secondary, the first victory is when you can win over your opponent’s mental status. Once you conquer them mentally, you conquer the game physically.

For a girl, losing matches is just not one single problem. As the age progresses, the parents get worried for their child’s future. And same was the case with Shraddha. But Shraddha had her goals clear. Her priority remains her game and improving her form and that is all that matters to her. “Sometimes, you need to stand your ground to save your dreams. But that doesn’t mean you disobey your elders. Just make them understand the importance of your dream goals.”

Now that’s what I call a piece of sound advice!

The feathers in her cap (read: crown)

More than 100 big and small tournaments have been played by Shraddha inclusive of all the forms of MMA. The entire set of achievements can’t be placed although we try to enumerate a few recent ones.

• 2023 - Stairs National Federation - Gold
• Wako India Senior National Gold medallist in light contact
• Wako India Senior National Gold medallist in musical forms
• 2023 - Wako Seniors National - Gold medallist (selected for ranking tournament in Uzbekistan, World Combat Games Riyadh & Asian games)
• 2023 - State Kickboxing Wako - Gold medallist
• 2023 - All India Senior Musical & Creative forms (selection for Asian games & world championship) - Gold Medallist - selected in 2 different events
• 2022 - ITF National Gold Medallist
• 2022 - Wako India Open International Kickboxing Tournament - Gold Medallist
• All India book of records holder
• 2022 - Miss India Fitness
• 2021 - Inter Club Kickboxing & Musical forms - Gold Medallist
• 2021 - Khelo India Winter Games - Bronze
• 2021 - All India combat & martial arts games - Gold medallist

Upcoming tournaments

• Open 3, WAKO - September 2023, Uzbekistan
• World Combat Championship - October 2023, Saudi Arabia
• Asian Games - February 2024, to be announced

This power girl is all set to bring glory to the nation.

“I see myself as a World Champion with a gold medal. I want to be famous at the world level. Famous enough that when an opponent is fighting me, they must know who they are fighting with.”

Miss India Fitness - 2022

Never in her wildest of dreams had Shraddha thought to participate in a pageant. As suggested by her friend, she enrolled herself in a fitness pageant where she competed with fitness coaches and fitness enthusiasts from all over the country. The fitness pageant consisted of deadlifts, powerlifting, bench press, running for 10 km, and other strength and stamina assessments. The overall endurance and agility of the participants were tested. Like a charm, the title slid into her kitty owing to her amazing endurance and agility.

“It was indeed like a dream to bag the title amidst such other deserving candidates that I competed with,” reminisces the champion.

Future goals

“As I said, my ultimate goal is to be a world champion. And I am confident that I will be one,” said Shraddha positively. But her goals don’t stop her. Owing to poor facilities towards sports and sportspersons in our country, she aims to create a difference for all. She says with deep regret, “Athletes from other countries mock us when they learn that our country isn’t doing sufficient for us. Sadly, we need to go looking out for private sponsors for representing our country at the international level when it should be sponsored by the government. It feels bad when the scholarships of deserving sportspersons get diluted in the hierarchy of government.” She wants to bring a change in the nation. Honestly, all of us are hopeful in this matter that one day, things will change. Hopefully, the athletes of the country will bring that change.

Words to Inspire

“Find your potential yourself. No one will be able to do that for you. Self-discipline and consistency are all you need. If you want to see yourself at the top of the podium, you will have to fight all the distractions and focus. That is what I do and I think I did well.”

Now that’s a piece of sound advice coming from a champion.