CHARAK Shivani

General
BEATING CANCER
She was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at age nine. After undergoing treatment and chemotherapy, she was declared cancer-free in 2012. "I didn't realise how severe it was until the day I had my first chemotherapy back in 2011. The next years were spent in hospitals undergoing treatment. My parents wanted to shield me from the diagnosis, and the fact that my left ovary needed to be extracted. They did succeed for almost a year. They took all the precautions, keeping the truth from my siblings and the extended family. I used to observe my parents fraught with tension, trying to stop themselves from tearing up in my presence. It is only when I overheard the staff at the hospital discussing my condition that I pieced all the information together and deduced that I had the 'big C'. Now I am absolutely healthy. There is no trace of the cancer and the doctors have said I can have children and do anything - even become an Olympian." (femina.in, 02 Jun 2021; Facebook page, 10 Mar 2021; yourstory.com, 09 Jan 2020; olympics.com, 31 Mar 2021)

PUSHING BOUNDARIES
Not everyone supported her climbing aspirations when she first began the sport. "When I took up the sport of climbing, I was told that I was not fit for it. There were too many detractors when I started, well-meaning neighbours and relatives who said it is a boy's sport; girls should learn how to run the house. Struggle is at the core of climbing and it has been a part of my own social context. Gender is a handicap here, girls in my neighbourhood are never encouraged to pursue a career in sports. The sport is yet to get some much-needed visibility in the state. Initially, there were scores of people who questioned my credibility as a woman, asking my parents to prevent me from taking up climbing. Because sports was not something for women to pursue, they thought. But that never bothered my parents, the strong and supportive ecosystem at home made a huge difference in my career. They [her detractors] had to finally take notice of me when I went for the [international competitions]. They called to congratulate me." (femina.in, 02 Jun 2021; thebridge.in, 15 Jul 2021)

FAVOURITE DISCIPLINE
Lead is her favourite climbing discipline, and she often practises lead climbing with her brothers. "Lead climbing is my favourite climbing and I love doing it. Most of the times I love climbing the walls, so, yes, lead is my favourite. I train maximum time with my brothers and I enjoy doing it. Climbing with my brothers has always been my favourite experience. They are the ones who motivate me and bring the positive vibes around me, I just stick around with them always. As they keep telling me that I should not take any tension or pressure, just be calm and practise my climbing and I just go with that." (fistosports.com, 17 Mar 2022)