Para sports are on the rise in India, and the credit goes to the men and women who have displayed magnificent performances over the years to help the country come up as one of the major players in Para sports. Among the disciplines, powerlifting has come up as one of the major contributors for India on the international stages and Sakina Khatun has been a big part of it.

While the Para powerlifter has been a multi-time medal winner at major events, she remains behind a veil of darkness for the majority of Indian fans. As Sakina Khatun aims to clinch another medal at the Commonwealth Games 2022, let’s take a look at who she is and how she became one of the best in the country.

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Born on June 20, 1989, in Bashirhat in West Bengal, to a farming family, Sakina Khatun witnessed hardships while she was growing up. Sakina’s father worked as a farmer, and financial issues were constant in her family. She contracted polio as a baby, the effects of which forced her impairment. However, Khatun did not let it limit her, as she loved sports from a very early age.

She underwent four surgeries to survive polio and was recommended by doctors to begin swimming, which strengthens muscles in the body. It was when she began her journey in sports. Sakina completed her schooling at Kadiriya High Madrasa in West Bengal.

While Sakina was originally in Para swimming, she left the sport after her non-selection at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi. It was at this time when one of her coaches suggested she begin powerlifting and introduced her to Farman Basha, an Indian powerlifter. She was studying in the 10th grade when she moved to Bangalore to begin her powerlifting training. Khatun later married Basha and lives in Bangalore currently.

Khatun’s career has been nothing short of magnificent. She is the only Indian woman Para-athlete to win a medal at the Commonwealth Games. Apart from it, she also finished in fifth position at the Tokyo Paralympics.

When she began to participate in Para powerlifting events, it was not long before she won laurels. Khatun won the bronze medal in the 2014 Commonwealth Games. She also won the Brew Award in 2016 and Eklavya Award in 2018. Khatun finished in the fourth position at the Fazza Powerlifting World Cup in 2017.

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She continued her impressive display in 2018 as she won the silver medal at World Para Powerlifting Americas Open Championship. However, she could not win her second CWG medal as she finished in fifth position in the Gold Coast edition. Later, she went on to win two silver medals at the Fazza IPC Powerlifting World Cup and Asian Para Games in 2018. The 33-year-old also won the gold medal at Tokyo Para Powerlifting World Cup in 2019.

Sakina Khatun is looking forward to clinching her second medal at the Commonwealth Games 2022 when she takes centre stage on August 4.