Trailblazer on Two Wheels: Anissa Lamare's Silent Revolution
Anissa Lamare, a trailblazer in Indian mountain biking, broke barriers as the first female downhill cyclist. From humble beginnings in Shillong, she now competes internationally. Her achievements have inspired a new wave of athletes, highlighted in media campaigns. Lamare also propels the sport locally as an entrepreneur and advocate.
- Country:
- India
In the northeast's serene landscapes, Anissa Lamare is crafting a narrative of determination and grit that challenges the status quo.
The 28-year-old from Shillong is India's first female downhill mountain bicyclist, an achievement forged through relentless perseverance.
Embracing a sport once devoid of female presence in India, Lamare's journey began in December 2015.
Faced with no professional infrastructure or recognition, the former literature student turned her passion for mountain biking into a pioneering endeavor in a male-dominated field.
"I wasn't just racing, I was paving the way for others," she conveyed to PTI.
Downhill mountain biking, which involves high-speed descents on rugged trails, requires immense skill and mental fortitude; skills Lamare honed independently.
Her international breakthrough came during the 28th Asian Continental Mountain Bike Championships in Ponmudi, where she finished ninth.
She also clinched a silver medal at Nepal's Pokhara Enduro Race, consolidating her reputation across Asia.
Her entrepreneurial venture, Pedal Compass, in Shillong, symbolizes her dual passions for sport and business.
Through this shop, she cultivates a cycling community, striving to open mountain biking vistas to young girls.
Courageously traversing a path laden with challenges, Anissa Lamare reshapes not only sporting realms but societal narratives, encouraging quiet yet powerful change.
(With inputs from agencies.)
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