Last Updated:
The competition involved 1.9km of swimming, 90 km of cycling and a stretch of 21.1 km for running.
Diet includes only protein-rich home-cooked meals.
Many feel endurance sports like triathlons or marathons are only meant for professional athletes training for years. Some Indian individuals have proved them wrong with their resilience and discipline. It was no doubt challenging for these newbie athletes to shine in hardcore sports events. They, however, have showcased immense grit and passion to overcome all the hurdles.
Besides balancing their full-time jobs, these people have already hit headlines for their sporting achievements. One of them is Diya Nayar, a 41-year-old woman who featured in her first-ever Ironman race competition in Turkey earlier this year. Diya represented India in the 41-44 age category.
The Ironman 70.3 race demands skills in various challenging activities such as swimming, running and cycling. Diya shifted her focus to the sport in 2020. She first learnt to cycle before mastering long-distance swimming in 2022. She underwent rigorous training for six months to prepare for the event in Turkey.
The competition involved 1.9km of swimming, 90 km of cycling and a stretch of 21.1 km for running. All these activities had to be completed within 8 hours and 30 minutes. As reported by the Indian Express, Diya used to wake up at 4 AM for the morning sessions and followed the routine five or six times a week. Her diet included only protein-rich home-cooked meals.
“I think I’ve always been an adrenaline junkie, constantly searching for the next challenge. I only learned to cycle when my husband, Sachin, bought me my first cycle in 2020. I promised him I’d learn before his birthday,” Diya said while recalling her journey to becoming an athlete.
Next comes Shanay Shah who worked as an advocate at the Bombay High Court before competing in three Olympic-distance triathlons and two full marathons. He also featured in Ironman Turkey and Ironman Goa in October 2024. Despite dealing with asthma, Shanay never gave up on his plans to take on endurance sports.
“People said it was dangerous, but that only fueled my determination. Endurance events test your mental strength. Learning to understand the science of the sport, staying patient, and replicating training sessions on race day helped me immensely,” the 41-year-old said.
Some other people who have redefined their lifestyle to push the limits are Akshay Aiyar and Dalip Singh Sabharwal. While working in the alco-bev industry, Akshay has competed in some major national-level events like TCSW10 Bangalore, VDHM Delhi and TMM Mumbai. Meanwhile, Dalip felt his passion for running after watching senior citizens participating in the Delhi Half Marathon in 2017.
