Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You also participated at the Amateur Olympia 2015 and bagged the 6th position. How was your experience participating at such a great stage?
Ms. Karuna Waghmare:
Representing India at Amateur Olympia was always my goal. However, it was a rocky path to reach there. I had suffered continuous bouts of typhoid, jaundice and malaria for 3-4 months before the competition. 18 days before the final competition, during the trial rounds, I was still on medication. I went up to the AFBF General Secretary, Sanjay More, and told him I didn’t think I could do it. He, however, told me to just close my eyes and go for it. My friend, Jaideep Ghosh was also a great support at this time. So with their blessings, I trained extremely hard for the next 18 days with my coach, Viraj Salmarkar. 18 days was a very short time to get back into contest conditioning. I worked out 3 times a day, all while still being on medication.
But everything proved to be worth it. I was the first Indian women’s physique athlete to win an Olympia medal for India. It was an extremely proud moment for me.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Would you like to tell us about the changing scenario of fitness in our country over the years?
Ms. Karuna Waghmare:
We’re definitely moving in the right direction. We’re more informed about different forms of fitness and we’re more inspired.
I can cite a short example. I was participating in Miss India Women’s Physique 2015 in Satara. Like I said earlier, its a conservative town, and there I was, striking various poses in a bikini on stage! I was extremely nervous about what the responses will be like. But I was so pleasantly surprised! After the competition, quite a few people came backstage to tell me how inspired they felt. In fact, I had some men tell me they now wanted to encourage the women in their families to pursue sports and fitness. So, yes, we’re definitely headed in the right direction. We just need to keep pushing and inspiring each other.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Who has been your greatest influence and motivator in your success in this field?
Ms. Karuna Waghmare:
The woman from ‘Mother of 6 with a Six Pack’ has and will continue be my number one inspiration. Her story started my journey, I am very grateful for it. I am also very thankful for Viraj Salmarkar, who trained me for Miss Asia 2015 and Amateur Olympia 2015. He kept the force of positivity flowing through me, and encouraged me to always walk with a winner’s spirit.
This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar, President womenfitness.org and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.
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