In a country where sports like cricket and football dominate the spotlight, 23-year-old Rupa Bayor has broken new ground by emerging as the first Indian Taekwondo athlete to break into the top 10 in the World Poomsae rankings, a form of Taekwondo where competitors perform sequences of techniques in a pattern similar to gymnastics routines, judged on skill and precision.
Currently ranked Number 9 by World Taekwondo, a sports federation, Rupa’s achievement at such a young age is nothing short of remarkable, showcasing her dedication, skill, and unwavering determination to put Indian Taekwondo on the global stage.
In the quiet, scenic village of Sippi in Arunachal Pradesh, Rupa Bayor's story began. Sippi, just 14 kilometres from the district headquarters in Daporijo, has a close-knit community of a few hundred villagers who live simple lives, often untouched by the world outside. But Rupa Bayor’s journey has been remarkably atypical..
Growing Up In Adversity
Rupa's life has been marked by hardship and resilience. Her father passed away when she was a toddler, leaving her mother Yami Bayor, a young widow, to raise four children on her own. Life wasn’t easy, as Yami worked in the paddy fields to provide basic needs for her children.
Her mother, an orphan herself, was married young and had little education or support. Rupa’s maternal uncle, a karate master, recognised her innate aggression and decided to channel it through martial arts. What began as an outlet for her emotions soon grew into a passion, leading her to switch from karate to Taekwondo, an Olympic sport with greater opportunities.
Breaking Stereotypes, Building Dreams
Hailing from a community where young girls are often married off before turning 18, Rupa defied societal expectations with her fierce determination. Supported wholeheartedly by her family, she moved to the state capital, Itanagar, to train seriously in Taekwondo.
Her skills and hard work soon bore fruit. Rupa began competing internationally and secured her first medal in Croatia in 2022, marking her arrival on the global stage. However, her path to success has been riddled with challenges, including the recent disappointment of being unable to participate in the Hangzhou Asian Games due to a visa denial – an issue that she notes, affects many sportspersons from Arunachal Pradesh.
While her Poomsae category may not make it to the Olympics, Rupa remains focused and committed to excelling in her sport. She is determined to compete at the next Asian Games in Japan, looking forward to a bright future in the sport she loves. Her ultimate goal isn’t just to participate – she wants to make history by bringing home medals and doing her country proud.
She continues to inspire not just the people of Sippi but young girls across India, showing them that no dream is too big, no background too humble, and no challenge too difficult to overcome.