From Haryana to the World Rankings: A Tale of Grit and Glory
At just 20, Shraddha Rangarh from Faridabad, Haryana, has made history by securing the 5th rank in global kickboxing rankings. What makes her achievement even more remarkable? She’s entirely self-taught.
Fighting Gender Norms with Every Kick
Growing up in a traditional family where girls were encouraged to focus solely on education, Shraddha’s dreams of pursuing sports were met with disapproval. Her parents were hesitant, believing that a sporting career wasn’t meant for girls. But that didn’t stop her. Inspired by martial arts legends like Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan, she nurtured a quiet determination to break the mold.
Learning from YouTube, Winning on the World Stage
Shraddha’s martial arts journey began serendipitously at age 13, when a coach spotted her athleticism during a school football session and introduced her to taekwondo. She quickly excelled, winning gold in her very first national-level competition.
But her ambitions didn’t stop there. With limited access to formal training, Shraddha turned to YouTube, teaching herself a style known as “tricking”—a combination of martial arts, flips, and gymnastics. Merging these techniques with her taekwondo base, she carved her unique style through relentless self-discipline and practice.
India’s New Face of Kickboxing
Her hard work paid off in a big way. Shraddha represented India on multiple international platforms, where she bagged gold in the Senior Female Musical Form Hard Style category at the WAKO World Cup 2024 in Uzbekistan. In the same tournament, she added three silver medals to her name.
She went on to dominate at the 2024 Asian Kickboxing Championship in Cambodia, becoming the first Indian to win four medals—two gold and two silver—in a single event. Her meteoric rise placed her 5th in the official global rankings in her category.
Dreaming Bigger: What’s Next for Shraddha?
Shraddha now has her sights firmly set on becoming a world champion within the next two years. With unwavering focus, she trains daily, driven by the belief that no dream is too big, and no obstacle too strong.
Her story is a powerful testament to what self-belief, grit, and passion can achieve—even without traditional support or resources. Shraddha isn’t just winning medals; she’s rewriting what’s possible for young women in sports.