Chasing Gold: Xena Raja's Inspiring Taekwondo Journey

They say that the goal of life is finding your purpose, but sometimes, the purpose finds you even before you realize it. This couldn’t have been truer for Xena Raja. Introduced to the world of sports at a young age, she didn’t get to choose her path—Taekwondo chose her instead.

What began as an extracurricular activity quickly became a passion. Xena took what life offered and turned it into something extraordinary. Through sheer determination and unwavering dedication, she transformed into a national champion in a sport many dreams of mastering but only a few succeed.

This article will explore her inspiring journey, highlighting how she embraced the purpose she didn’t get to choose but conquered all the same. It was not an easy journey—filled with several challenges—which she overcame to become the accomplished athlete she is today.

Starting Early

Just like every Indian parent, Xena’s parents also wanted to see their child excel from a young age. She recalls, “My parents were always keen on putting me into some sort of sport as an extracurricular activity.” As a result, they wanted her to become a part of tennis as a sport from the tender age of 3. However, as it turned out, she was too young for the rigorous training it required.

This left them with the only other viable option: Taekwondo. Her mother, as Xena remembers, “wanted to toughen up her delicate girl.” Things didn’t go according to her plan, though. Even after years of practice and training, Xena may have remained a delicate girl, but she did find something much deeper in Taekwondo—a passion that would shape her life.

With time, her love and fondness for the sport have only grown. The sport has become more than just a way to stay active; instead, it has become a commitment, a source of joy, and, above all, a fundamental part of her identity. Everything the sport throws her way, whether it be a grueling training session or the highs and lows of competition, Xena embraces with a smile. This attitude has molded her into a resilient athlete.

Making of a champion

At some point in our lives, we have seen movies featuring a protagonist preparing for the battle of his life. Be it a fight in the ring or outside, the director doesn’t miss the opportunity to show a montage of the protagonist toiling through hard workout sessions. With a three-minute montage and a motivational song in the background, the protagonist gets ready for the final battle.

But real life doesn’t work that way. The real-life athletes don’t get powerful by going through just one three-minute montage, instead, they have to do much more than that. We learned all about it from Xena when we asked her about her training schedule.

“My typical training routine consists of 2-2.5 hours in the morning and 2-2.5 hours in the evening. We have more fitness-based sessions in the morning and taekwondo tactical-based sessions in the evening.” On top of that, she also has to indulge in mental preparation, which is separate from her usual practice. In this segment, she focuses on preparing herself for the match by shutting the voices in her head.

Xena says, “I still get a little anxious at times during or before my matches, but I still have a long way to go, and eventually, I’ll find my rhythm with that as well.”

Triumphs and glory

Today, being a Taekwondo player means more to Xena than just titles and medals. It symbolizes years of dedication, the joy of self-discovery, and the unwavering belief that she has found her true calling in life. However, it still took her some time to taste success on the mat.

Xena told us, “Until 2022, I did not have a lot of achievements. I almost always lost in the state competitions.” All these failures couldn’t weigh her down, though. She continued to toil her way through, even during the pandemic, to ensure that she stayed in her best shape, both physically and mentally.

This dedication eventually paid off after she won her first nationals. Following this triumph, she was also called up for the 2022 World Taekwondo Junior Championship and the 11th Asian Junior Taekwondo Championships. Furthermore, she also played in the 3rd Mount Everest Open Taekwondo Championship—G2 and won a gold medal there.

Since then, she has not looked back. Despite suffering from an ankle injury, she has been elected to the Junior Championships for consecutive years. This shows her dedication, which makes her thrive every day to become the best version of herself. Irrespective of her daily challenges, she has risen above them all and emerged as a champion.

Armor of gold

Xena Raja has consistently excelled in Taekwondo, securing several gold medals at both national and international levels. Her achievements include victories at the IT Open National Ranking Competition 2022 in Nashik, the 3rd Mt. Everest International Open Taekwondo Junior Championships 2022 in Pokhara, Nepal, and the IT Junior National Championships 2022-23 in Bangalore.

She also won gold at the 39th National Junior Kyorugi Taekwondo Championships 2023 in Visakhapatnam, the IT Kyorugi Open National Championship 2023 in Nashik, and the 66th National School Games 2022-23 in Delhi.

Her winning streak continued in 2024, with gold medals at the IT Junior National Championships 2024 in Cuttack, the IT Champion Of Champions Finals 2024 in Kanpur, and the 41st National Junior Kyorugi Taekwondo Championships 2024 in Aurangabad. These victories showcase her relentless dedication to the sport.

Very recently, she competed in the World Junior Championships in Korea, which she describes as a “high-level challenge that was kind of inspiring as well.” According to her, there was a lot to learn from this international experience; however, one key takeaway for her would be the importance of mental toughness.

Outside the world of Taekwondo, Xena Raja balances her intense training with moments of relaxation, enjoying music and books to recharge. This balance helps her stay focused on her goals while maintaining a sense of normalcy.

Her aspirations reach far beyond her current achievements; she dreams of representing India in the Olympic Games, competing in the Asian Games, and winning the World Taekwondo Grand Prix. Each match is more than a competition for Xena—it’s a step toward these larger dreams.

Her recent performances, combined with her determination, have made these goals feel closer than ever. Beyond medals, the journey of growth and self-improvement drives her as she continues to embrace the challenges on the path she was meant to follow.

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