- The 24-year-old Hillang Yajik is from the isolated Arunachal Pradesh district of Kurung Kumey
- At the 15th South Asian Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Championships 2025 in Thimphu, Bhutan, she created history
At the 15th South Asian Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Championships 2025 in Thimphu, Bhutan, 24-year-old Hillang Yajik, who hails from the remote Kurung Kumey district of Arunachal Pradesh, made history by taking home a gold medal in the Women's Model Physique (up to 155 cm) category and a silver in another.
Political figures and sports officials from all over India have praised her for becoming the first woman from Arunachal Pradesh to win an international gold in physique sports. The victory highlights the vast pool of talent coming from the Northeast region of India, especially among female athletes.
Coming from one of the poorest regions of the state, Hillang's story is one of perseverance, strength, and camaraderie. She chose to take up bodybuilding as a hobby while in college because there were no suitable training facilities in the area, finding a good balance between demanding workouts and academics. Her success was the result of national selection trials held by the Bodybuilding Association of Kerala and the Indian Body Builders Federation.
Prior to this historic victory, Hillang also won silver at the 13th Federation Cup in Goa in April 2024. She then represented India in the 15th WBPF World Championships of 2024 and the 56th Asian Bodybuilding & Physique Sports Championships, giving her invaluable international experience.
Hillang's story is as much a personal triumph—it's a symbol of hope for aspiring athletes from distant and underdeveloped areas. Her rise transcends stereotypes about women and highlights the necessity of better sports infrastructure and equal opportunities, especially in India's northeast.
Chief Minister Pema Khandu praised her as "a trailblazer in every sense" and said she was a huge source of pride for Arunachal Pradesh. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju also congratulated her on "creating history," highlighting the positive impact her achievements can have on encouraging more women to play sports.
Nabam Tuna, the president of the Arunachal Bodybuilding Association, commended her tenacity and stated that her achievements speak for India abroad. He expressed his hope that her story would encourage more young athletes, especially women from the Northeast, to follow their athletic dreams.
