While many dream of hanging up their boots at 50, a bureaucrat in Delhi has shown that age is nothing but a number, and you can stay on top with sheer grit and grind. Ekta Vishnoi, Deputy Director General at Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the brains behind the famous Fit India Movement, who was already making waves in fitness, is now creating records in powerlifting. She has bagged medals at the recent National Senior Powerlifting Championship in Hyderabad. At the ripe age of 50, Vishnoi went toe-to-toe with girls half her age, clinching a Silver in deadlift with a whopping 165kg lift and a Bronze overall. Not only did she dominate, but she also shattered all records in the Master 2 category. While talking to Akashvani, Ekta Vishnoi said it was her hobby of keeping herself fit and healthy that got her to this stage. 

Before this, Vishnoi clinched gold in the national masters powerlifting championship and struck gold and silver in the Commonwealth Powerlifting Championship and Asian Powerlifting Championship, 2022.

But she’s not just making waves as an athlete; she’s also a high-flyer in administration. A seasoned Indian Revenue Service officer from the class of ’99, Vishnoi currently steers the ship as the Mission Director of the Fit India Movement, a pet project of the Indian government to bring the nation into shape, and leads the prestigious Khelo India Scheme. Her objective is to transform India into a sporting powerhouse where every citizen is fit. Her sights are now set on representing India and bagging more medals at the World Masters Powerlifting Championship in South Africa come October.

Ekta says everybody should take out some time to keep their mind and body healthy as this will pave way for success in their lives.