Staff Reporter –
Idian Kettlebell athlete Shivani Agarwalla has once again made history, clinching gold medal at the IKMF World Championship held from November 15th to 17th November in Belgium. Shivani also achieved the highly esteemed title of Candidate of Master of Sport (CMS) in Marathon format for Kettlebell Sport, becoming the first Indian woman to achieve this feat.
In her first event, the Double Push Press with 2*16 kg Kettlebell, Shivani completed 45 repetitions within the 10-minute limit, earning her the prestigious National Rank. She then went on to dominate in the Full Marathon (60 min) One Arm Snatch event, where she achieved 864 repetitions, securing her gold and CMS title. Both events demand extreme endurance, as athletes lift non-stop for the entirety of the set time.
Following her victory, Shivani and her team were warmly hosted by the Indian Ambassador to Belgium, His Excellency Mr. Saurabh Kumar, at the Embassy of India in Brussels on November 18th.
Sri Subhash Agarwal ji from Maithon Alloys Ltd. were the proud sponsors of this World Championship for Shivani Agarwalla. A veteran of the sport, Shivani’s
accomplishments on the world stage include multiple IGSF World Championship Golds, with titles from Uzbekistan in 2018 and Australia in 2019. She further solidified her reputation by winning the IKMF Kettlebell World Championship in France in 2021. In recognition of her contributions to sports, she was awarded the Pride of Bengal for Young Achievers in the Sports category by the ICC and recently received a letter of recognition from the Honorable Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi.
A Chartered Accountant by profession, Shivani balances her athletic career with her roles as a mother to a 9-year-old son and a prominent figure in Indian Kettlebell sports. She credits her journey to the support of her family, particularly her husband, Mayank Agarwalla, and her coach, Mr. Arnav Sarkar from Kolkata, whose mentorship introduced her to the sport.
Kettlebell sport, which originated in Russia, challenges athletes to lift for a set time, with victory determined by bodyweight category and repetitions. The sport has gained global prominence since the IGSF held its first World Championship in 1992.
Shivani Agarwalla’s achievements mark a new high for Indian athletes in Kettlebell sport, and her legacy continues to inspire a new generation.