Two major injuries at 19: How wrestler Shiksha Kharb keeps fighting

Bellary: At 19, Shiksha Kharb has seen more than most athletes her age have. More than two serious injuries threatened to halt her progressive career even before it had begun.

But the ultimate pursuit of an Olympic medal has always motivated the strong-willed teenager to keep going.

"Last year, just before the Junior Nationals, I had a labrum tear along with a SLAP lesion and a cyst, because of which my back muscles stopped functioning properly. I underwent surgery in August," Shiksha told The Bridge.

“In 2024, before the Under-23 World Championships, I recovered from MCL and PCL injuries along with a Grade 2 cartilage tear on my left knee," she added.

Despite the challenges, Shiksha, a budding wrestler from Bhada Khera – a small village near Hisar in Haryana, has added numerous national and international medals to her kitty.

Some prominent ones include the U-23 World Championships bronze medal in 2024, a silver U23 Asian Championships last year in Vietnam and another silver in the Senior World Ranking Series event.

Shikha was introduced to the sport by her father, Rammehar Kharb, an army personnel, in 2017.

"I was a hyperactive child and used to play hockey, taekwondo and kickboxing. My father suggested I do wrestling," said Shiksha.

A year later, Shiksha had her first national medal, a gold in the U-15 category, around her neck. Over the years, Shikha has collected around more than 15 national medals and five international medals.

But away from the clink of medals there have been days when the rigorous training and recurring injuries have taken a toll.

It was then that the wallpapers on her phone and the posters beside her bed serve as constant reminders of the dreams she is still chasing.

"Sometimes I don’t feel like waking up early or going to training, I look at my targets and remind myself that if I want to achieve them, I have to work for them every single day. I once read in a book that if your target is always in front of your eyes, it keeps motivating you," she said.

"The LA Olympics, Asian Games and World Championships are always in front of me," she added.

Recovery and beyond

A major turning point in her recovery came after joining the Inspire Institute of Sport in Bellary in 2023.

Shiksha believes proper rehabilitation and support system makes all the difference for injured athletes, especially at a young age.

"In 2022, I got injured. Then, I was still young and it was a huge setback for me. Sometimes I still think that if I had received better treatment earlier, maybe I could already have become a world champion," she said.

The shoulder surgery tested her mentally. There were moments when she doubted if would be able to return to the mat at all. But constant support from the physios, trainers and strength and conditioning staff at IIS helped her regain that confidence.

"Mentally it was a very difficult phase. I felt I wouldn’t be able to do it again. But my physio, my trainer and strength and conditioning coach supported me a lot. I managed to make a comeback in five or six months and even won medals," she said.

Eye on Asian Games quota

Ten days from now, Shiksha will compete for a place in India’s squad for the 2026 Asian Games. To remain eligible, she has dropped from the 65kg to 62kg, since her usual weight class is not part of the Games roster.

For now, her focus is to trust her preparation and give everything she has on the mat.

"If I believe in myself, I can do anything," she said.

And behind that confidence stands a father, who made her dream, the man she calls her biggest supporter.

"There were many injuries and many ups and downs. Sometimes I felt like quitting, but my father never let me give up," she said.

"He even left his job for me. No matter how down I feel, how many matches I lose or how many points I am behind, he always tells me: ‘You can do it.’ He is my biggest supporter," she concluded.