“Sportsmanship isn’t about criticizing the “ONE” who didn’t win on “That ONE” day… it’s about appreciating and supporting their hard work amidst failures!!!”
Bhavna Tokekar is a mother of two teenage boys and is married to a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force who is also a Kargil hero. At an age of 47 years she won four Gold medals in Powerlifting in two events (Full Powerlifting and Bench Press) of Asian Open Powerlifting Championship held at Chelyabinsk, Russia from 13-14 July 2019. This was her debut in Powerlifting and that too at an International level.
Bhavna participated in the raw category of AWPC (tested) in Masters 2 (athlete age 45-49) and in the under 67.5 kg body weight bracket. In the competition she squatted with 85 kgs, did a bench press of 62.5 kgs and a dead lift of 120 kgs, adding up to 267.5 kgs. She improved her performance further in a span of four months at the WPC/AWPC World Open Powerlifting Championship held at Moscow in Dec 2019. In the World Championship she won three Gold medals, one each in Full Power Lifting, Bench Press and DeadLift competitions.
In the World Championship she participated in Classic Raw category of AWPC (tested) in Masters 2 (athlete age 45-49), in the under 67.5 kg body weight bracket. In Full Powerlifting she squatted with 100 kgs, did a bench press of 70 kgs and deadlift of 127.5 kgs adding up to 297.5 kgs. She broke the existing World Record for bench press in Full Powerlifting with a bench press of 70 kgs. The previous record was of 2017 and was for 67.5 kgs. On the second day of the championship, she participated in Bench Press and DeadLift events wherein she did a bench press of 72.5 kgs and a dead lift of 132.5 kgs exceeding her own score of the previous day. Bhavna won two Gold medals at the Powerlifting World Cup in Moscow, Russia from 11-12 Dec 2021 in Full Powerlifting and Bench Press. In Full Powerlifting she squatted 95kgs, did a bench press of 77.5kgs and a dead lift of 125kgs adding to 297.5kgs and did a Bench Press of 75 kgs in the single lift event. This was when all gyms were closed due to Covid restrictions for almost two years, while practicing at home (on terrace or in garden) with whatever little weights and equipment she could manage. At 50, she participated in the WPC/AWPC World Powerlifting Championship at Manchester UK from 6-10 Sep 2022 achieving pole position and etching five World records in her name in the under 75 kg weight bracket as a Raw category athlete in Masters-3 (age 50-54). On 8th Sep 22, she made a World record of maximum total (300 kgs) in Full powerlifting with a squat 95 kgs, bench press of 77.5 kgs and a deadlift of 127.5 kgs. She improved her performance further by doing a squat with 102.5 kgs, a bench press with 80 kgs and deadlift with 132.5 kgs, all of which were also World records. Her fifth World record was in the single lift event of bench press on 10th Sep 22 in which she did a bench press with 77.5kgs.
Bhavna started weight training at the age of 40 yrs., when most women are considered too old for heavy physical activity and strength training. She started weight training to divert her attention from a severe skin inflammation and the side effects of its medication like cortico-steroids, immune-suppressants, anti-allergic etc. which she had to take.
Since Powerlifting is not an Olympic sport there was no support to her from any government agency in either training, nutritional advice, physiotherapy or injury management. She read about training patterns, exercises, techniques to improve her performance and correct her technique by voraciously surfing and reading up on the internet. In absence of any formalized training/ coaching, it was her dedication and determination which kept her motivated to find time for pursuing her passion without compromising on her role as a mother, a wife or a daughter and while doing all household chores, as an anchor of her family.
Bhavna’s win at these three International championships at her age, her popularity and fan following in India and abroad (mainly USA, UK and Russia) goes to prove that there are lot of women around the world who want to exercise to stay fit but are probably shy or scared of being ridiculed for starting so late in life.
“It’s hard to beat a person who never gives up”, said Bhavana.
Today she is an inspiration for many women to embark on the fitness journey irrespective of their age, status and/ or physical condition. She truly represents an average Indian woman with an extraordinary desire to chase her dream, work towards it and achieve it. She always says that “Don’t limit yourself; many people limit themselves to what they think they can do. You can go as far as your mind lets you. What you believe, remember, you can achieve.”
