Vadodara women smash health woes with badminton

Vadodara: Four years ago, Naziya Siriwala could barely walk a short distance without struggling with knee pain. Today, the 42-year-old Ajwa Road resident is a regular on the badminton court—thanks to a community initiative that introduced her to the sport and transformed her health.

"I work at a bank where we sit for hours. The lack of physical activity took a toll on my knees," Siriwala told TOI. "When I heard about a badminton tournament being organised in our community, I started practising. Gradually, I became a regular. Now, the pain is gone, and I feel healthier than ever. Badminton changed my life."

Siriwala is one of nearly 150 women from the Bohra Muslim community in Vadodara who have taken up the sport in recent years as a way to stay fit and active.

The credit for this growing movement goes to Naashetha Bhaisaheb, who began organising regular sports activities for women in her community. "Many middle-aged women hardly get any physical exercise in their daily routine. After the Covid lockdowns, several complained of knee, back, or shoulder pain," she said.

Recognising the need for physical activity, Bhaisaheb introduced badminton in 2021 as an accessible sport that could be played in small groups. "Initially, I just encouraged women to try it and explained the health benefits. Soon, the number of participants started growing as they noticed a visible improvement in their fitness," she added.

By 2022, the first women's badminton tournament for the Bohra community was held in the city, quickly becoming a popular annual event. The initiative, now overseen by the Baroda Cyclopedians Ladies Wing, includes regular practice sessions and tournaments for women of all age groups.

Sakina Tinwala, 38, shared a similar story of transformation. "I was sceptical at first, but once I started playing, my muscle aches disappeared. It's not just about fitness—it's a space for women to bond and meet regularly."

For Sarah Lokhanwala of Bahar Colony, the game has become more than a sport. "It's a daily stress-buster. I feel more energetic and focused at work thanks to this intense workout."

Building on the success of the badminton program, Bhaisaheb said the community is now preparing to launch a pickleball tournament for women starting next month.