From Lifting Weights To Barriers: Chennai Gym Trains Differently-Abled Women For Global Arenas

By S Hussain

Chennai: Seated on a wheelchair, a focused Arunmozhi fixes the weight attached to the cable machine before she moves back a bit and sets herself to pull it. For this young para-powerlifter and multiple-time gold medalist in national discus and shot-put events, a special gym set up by the Tamil Nadu government for the differently-abled has made chasing her dreams easier.

Located on SP Balasubramaniam Road in the Nungambakkam area of Chennai, the place is buzzing, especially in the morning and evening hours, as many other athletes and other specially-abled fitness enthusiasts have found a liking for it.

“The gym is built with our needs in mind. Most other gyms are often inaccessible, where we would need assistance for everything. Here, I can train independently while staying in my wheelchair,” says Arunmozhi as she takes a break between her sets.

Born in a remote village in Tirunelveli, Arunmozhi was always an upbeat child who wanted to carve a future in sports. While her physical limitations were a barrier to her training, Arunmozhi was never a quitter. She knew she could overcome this challenge by sheer grit and perseverance.

As she grew, Arunmozhi would train at regular gymnasiums, which is where she realised that the equipment and the overall set-up of such places was not feasible for a specially-abled person.

That was until she practised in the special gym, the state's first such facility that offers differently-abled women a place to exercise without any hassles.

Built by the Greater Chennai Corporation, it was inaugurated by the state youth welfare and sports development minister, Udhayanidhi Stalin, in March. The gym's access is not restricted to the residents of the home alone, but any differently-abled woman can come here.

On reaching the facility, gym coordinator Matilda took ETV Bharat to the first floor, where women in wheelchairs were seen lifting weights, doing resistance training and preparing for high-level competitions. Their enthusiasm displayed their determination to prove that disability is not inability.

More Than Just Fitness

Arunmozhi says along with accessibility, what makes this gym unique is its homely ambience. "Unlike private gyms where we face a lack of support and strange stares, here we can comfortably go ahead with our routine training," she added.

Next to Arunmozhi was Nadhiya from Virudhunagar, another para-powerlifting athlete preparing for the World Para Games in Egypt. Speaking about the common difficulties faced in private gyms, she said the equipment is placed so high that every time, someone has to help. "It is difficult to seek help every time. Sometimes one may come forward to help, and sometimes not. The experience becomes very frustrating," she added.

Need For Nutritional Support

For athletes like Arunmozhi and Nadhiya, nutrition remains a challenge as strength training requires protein-rich food that is very expensive. Arunmozhi said it will be very helpful if the government introduces a scheme for them.

Athletes practising here focus on their upper-body strength as most have lower-body mobility issues. "We work on our arms, shoulders, back, chest, and core. We focus on these body parts," Nadhiya said.

The residents of the home who exercise at this facility said more such gyms are needed. "Gyms like this not only take care of the fitness but also help in boosting confidence," Arunmozhi said. It is not just about lifting weights but also about breaking barriers for a more inclusive sporting future, she added.

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