Having come from a farmer’s family, 22 year old Shivansh Tyagi has overcome a number of odds to make his mark on the sport of Taekwondo in India. He has won the bronze medal at the Commonwealth Championships in Montreal and another bronze medal in Jordan. He also finished fifth at the world level in the Faujirat Open tournament in the UAE and has achieved the first ranking in India in the under 74 kgs category due to his impressive performances.
In this exclusive interview, Shivansh Tyagi speaks about his journey in the sport, expectations from the Asian Championships, overcoming challenges, memorable achievements in his career, difference in domestic and international events and his goals for the future.
Q 1) Having come from a farmer's family, how were you first introduced to Taekwondo and what motivated you to take it up professionally?
I started Taekwondo in school and being from a farmer's family, it was tough because the concept of Taekwondo is not familiar in India. It started as a hobby and after watching the 2012 Olympics it became my dream to take it up as a sport professionally. When I won a gold medal in the national games, it was a big motivation for me that there is a future for me in this sport.
Q 2) What are your expectations from the Asian Championships which will be held in June?
I would like to win a medal, for sure. It is an incredible opportunity for me and also for the country. I'm working very hard for it and I'm looking forward to winning the medal.
Q 3) What are some of the challenges that you have faced as a taekwondo athlete in India? How did you overcome them?
Challenges are a part of an athlete's life and without them, no athlete is made. It’s not about what Indian Taekwondo can give to an athlete, it's what an Indian athlete can give to Taekwondo in the country. That’s my perspective and that’s how I overcome the challenges.
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Q 4) What are some of your biggest and most memorable achievements in your career?
The biggest achievement for me was bagging the bronze medal in the Commonwealth Games 2017. That was my first international tournament experience and I got a bronze medal. The Indian Open is very close to my heart because I won the gold medal in 2019.
Q 5) How different is the level of Taekwondo in domestic tournaments compared to international events?
When I go for international tournaments I have noticed that they are much more organised compared to India. The competition level is also much higher compared to domestically.
Q 6) What are your future goals and aspirations? How do you plan to achieve them?
My goal is to become the first Indian to participate in Taekwondo at the Olympics and put India’s name on the world map. I also want to inspire the new generation to take up Taekwondo as a sport in the future.
