Cycling is one of those sports that truly tests an athlete’s resolve. At the highest level, it’s not as much about the endurance, stamina or physical prowess, the difference between those who win and those who are forgotten is simply a matter of who wants it more. Just like strategic games such as chess, cycling is largely a game of the mind and having the right approach before a race makes all the difference in the result.

In this exclusive interview with SPOGO, we’re hearing the views of someone who knows all about cycling. She may only be 20, but Pranita Soman has the world at her feet. Having won a number of gold medals and making improvements by leaps and bounds every year, this young cyclist is definitely one to watch out for!

Q 1) When did you start cycling and what motivated you to take it up professionally?

I participated in my first cycle race in 2014 when I was in 8th standard which was a local race. My father told me just to give my best and to complete but I did so well that I stood second and was given a new bike by my father. Then I started cycling regularly till my 10th standard. I was not so sure about my cycling career but I always wanted to do something unique and adventures. Movies like Mary Kom, M. S. Dhoni and Dangal have always motivated me. While watching movies like these, I used to imagine myself bagging a gold medal for the country, holding an Indian flag…and that became my dream. Eventually after my 10th standard, I started cycling professionally and then I started training for state championships and nationals. That's how my journey started.

Q 2) How was the experience like training with Raju Bhapkar in Pimpri? Why did training in BMCC not meet your expectations?

For my further education and training, I moved to Pune and took admission in BMCC college for the 11th standard. However, 75% attendance was compulsory and because of that I couldn't devote much time to cycling. That’s why I changed my college the following year and shifted to Ahmednagar.

While I was in Pune for a year, I trained under Mr. Raju Bhapkar. He introduced me to 3 types of cycling and the various parts of cycle. I achieved my first national medal under his guidance in 2016.

Q 3) You’ve achieved a lot in your career so far, which accomplishment are you proudest of?

I would like to share about my 2 achievements of which I am proudest of. The first one is the MTB National 2017, where I created a history by bagging 4 gold medals. I was 17 years old at that time and I bagged 2 medals in the U-18 category and 2 Gold medals in the women elite category. That was one of the best nationals for me. The second one was when I was selected for the MTB Asian Championships 2020. I still remember that selection trial because it was the toughest one till date. I couldn't bag any medal at the Asian Championships but I learnt a lot from that experience.

Q 4) Cycling is a very physical sport but how important is mental health to push yourself to the limits and beyond?

Mental health is as important as physical health, not just in cycling but in any other sport. If you are not mentally prepared you can't give your best. In cycling it takes determination and dedication to get up early everyday and to ride hard. To do this, you need to be mentally strong. In my case, I do meditation and yoga to keep myself mentally fit. I have been doing it for the last 2-3 years and I can see the difference not just in my cycling performance but also my behaviour.

Q 5) What are some of the challenges that you have had to overcome? How do you deal with setbacks such as injuries?

Injuries are a part of sports and I have experienced many of them. In June of 2018, I had an accident while practicing which resulted in my left hand getting fractured. The national competitions were scheduled in the month of September that year and because of my hand I was not able to ride my bike for 2 months. It was very hard for me to keep myself mentally fit during that period and recover faster for the nationals. In 2017 I bagged 4 gold medals and my target for 2018 was to win 4 gold medals by a huge margin. At the nationals in 2018, I had a fall at a downhill section and injured the same hand again. This made it really difficult to compete in all 4 events and instead of achieving my goal of 4 gold medals, I won 2 gold medals, 1 silver and 1 bronze.

Q 6) According to you, what needs to be done to increase female participation in sports?

I believe we should change the mentality of people in our society because they think sports is not a good career option. We should also spread awareness about sports and the various sports related schemes amongst girls so that they have detailed information. There are many female athletes who are capable of making a mark but they don’t have much support from their families or have finances and could really use the Khelo India scheme. This is how we can increase female participation in sports.

Q 7) Who are the cyclists that you look up to? Who are your inspirations?

There are many senior and international cyclists that I am inspired by such as Jolanda Neaf (Switzerland), Pauline Ferrand Prevot (France), and Kate Courtney (USA).

Q 8) What is your message to aspiring girls out there who wish to pursue sports?

I would like to tell all the girls who wish to pursue sports that it’s important to study the sports you like. Set your targets and don’t keep limits for yourself. Always try to improve by making new challenges and conquering them.