A silver medallist in the Asian powerlifting championship, Majiziya Bhanu, the hijab-sporting powerlifter, is an icon of strength, determination and faith.
Majiziya Bhanu had just hit the gym for her regular workout session when she decided to devote some time for the interview. The gym has become an inseparable part of her life. She makes it a point to never miss it, no matter what time of the day it is, even after being awarded the title ‘the strongwoman of Kerala 2017’ by the Kerala State Powerlifting Association.
Majiziya hails from Orakatteri near Vadakara and what she has done in this past one year has put this little town on the sports map. Without much bash, she brought home a silver medal with a 370-kg lift in this year’s Asian powerlifting championship held in Malaysia. She makes it all sound like a breeze when she speaks about the effort put in. “It’s just been a year since I stepped into the world of powerlifting. Right from schooldays, I was into athletics and was fascinated by boxing and weightlifting.”
Gymnasiums itself are a rarity away from cities, let alone facilities of powerlifting.“I live in a village where not even men train in powerlifting,” she says.
There is a world of difference between weightlifting and powerlifting. For the uninitiated, she explains, “Rubber weights are lifted for weightlifting, whereas for powerlifting, we lift iron weights. Weightlifting competitions have two rounds and for powerlifting, there are three rounds. The score will also differ.”
She adds, “Weightlifting is already an event in the Olympics and there are only world championships for powerlifting. I hope powerlifting will be considered as an Olympic event as it was part of the National Games this time.”
Majiziya competes in the 52 kg senior women category. Shedding light into how she was introduced to powerlifting, she says, “My parents are my pillars of support. Once I finished school, they gave me the freedom to pursue anything I like as long as I am able to find time for studies as well. So, after I got their green light, I got in touch with my brother's swimming instructor and asked him if there was anything interesting like boxing or weightlifting under the Sports Council anywhere in Kozhikode. From there, I was introduced to a boxing instructor. I went there and started training in boxing. He recognised my capacity to go for something more challenging and suggested that I give a shot at powerlifting. That's how I began training under Jayadas sir for powerlifting.”
Powerlifting is not the only thing that Majiziya has devoted her life to. She is a final-year BDS student at Mahe Dental College. Quizzed about how she manages all these with just 24 hours in hand, she laughs. Her days begin with the daily namaz. “I get up early. I am a devout Muslim and prayers are a part of our life. So after prayers and quick studying, I leave for college by 7. My classes are from 8 to 3.30. I get back home, freshen up a bit, hit the gym and will practice till around 8. After getting home, I find some more time to study and then go to bed. The cycle repeats the next day.” she laughs it off. Apart from all these, she travels to Kozhikode once a week for her powerlifting training under her coach.
Right now, Majiziya is overjoyed by the new recognition that came her way last week. “I was recently awarded the Best Sports Woman of Kerala 2017 by the Calicut District Powerlifting Association. I will be representing my college at university-level competitions. She will also be attending the Asian powerlifting championship in December.”
It’s rare to see a woman sporting a hijab engaged in a sport like powerlifting. For Majiziya, it is a statement. “One of the main things that tend to rub the community the wrong way is clothing. I have seen plenty of women taking part in various sports with their hijabs on and thought, why not powerlifting! Right now, everyone is proud and I am invited to various events, irrespective of the community.”
