Cyclist Meenakshi Rohilla Credits Father’s Unwavering Support After Dominant KIUG 2025 Performance

India international track cyclist Meenakshi Rohilla credited her father's ceaseless efforts and determination for her success as an athlete.

Speaking to UNI on the sidelines of the ongoing Khelo India University Games 2025(KIUG) here at the Sawai Mansingh stadium the four-time gold medalist at the Asia Cup said that her father resisted immense social pressure to support her.

"My father was a very good high jumper, but due to lack of support he could not go for a long way, but he always ran from pillar to post to support me, our villagers were against the idea of him

supporting his daughter to become a sportsperson but he stood firm for me. Condition at the village was such that sometimes he would train me in secret, he was more keen on me becoming an athlete than I myself was, I got serious once I got into cycling, I liked athletics but not as much as cycling."

Meenakshi' s father Narendra Rohilla is a small trader in Dubaldhan Majra village in Jhajjar district of Haryana.

Meenakshi, who is a bronze medalist at the Asian Championships in 2022. explained how she started cycling almost by an accident, "on my father's encouragement I started off as a track and field athlete, I suffered a back disc injury after which I was advised bed rest for a while, post that I was advised to do cycling as part of the rehabilitation process, but once I started doing it I developed

a strong liking for it. Someone who can do athletics can do other sports as well, I was able to use the stamina and endurance gained from athletics in cycling."

The 23 year old won four gold medals and a silver at the ongoing KIUG 2025, her first Gold was in the 30 km individual road event, her second gold came in the 80 km road race, her third gold was at the 4 km track event and her final gold was in the 10 km individual scratch race. She secured a Silver medal at the individual persuit event.

The India athlete insisted that every tournament is important for her whether it be an international tournament or university level competition she always trys to give her very best and win.

"I try to give my best in every competition and attempt to beat my best timing every time I compete."

Meenakshi has completed Bachelor of Physical Education (B.P.Ed) and is now persuing B. Com from Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab.

She idolises American cyclist, the four time Olympic medallist Chloe Dygert for her remarkable comeback after a career threatening injury "she is my role model, her knee muscle was severely damaged, but she made a come back and became an Olympic medallist and also broke her own record"

Highlighting that cycling is an expensive sport she stressed the need for government and corporate support to players.

"Cycling is a comparatively expensive sport, equipments can cost in lakhs, a cycle for competiting costs about Rs 6-7 lakhs, many players leave the sport due to it. Hence cyclists need to get support," she said.

She credited Asmita league for her development as a sportsperson.

The Asmita League is an initiative under the Khelo India program to promote women's participation in sports by organizing leagues and competitions for various age groups across different disciplines.

She spoke about her future plans, "We have a busy international season coming up in 2026, I am training for the Asian championships, Asia Cup, then after that Asian

games and Commonwealth games. We will also give our best so that our team qualifies for the world championships."

Apart from cycling Meenakshi loves cooking and plans to start a multiple cuisine restaurant for her father as her way to thank him for his constant support

"I like cooking, and in the future I would like to start a multi cuisine restaurant for my father," she said with a smile.