Who Is Hillang Yajik? The New Face Of Female Body Building In India
Hillang Yajik, 25, hailing from Arunachal Pradesh, has created history by winning one gold and a bronze medal at the 15th South Asian Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Championships 2025, that was held in Thimpu, Bhutan from June 11 to 15. She made history by becoming the first female athlete from Arunachal Pradesh to clinch a gold medal at the international level. The 25-year-old got into the limelight after being chosen to represent India at the 56th Asian Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Championship last year. Furthermore, she also participated in the 15th WBPF World Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Championship.
Born in Kurung Kumey, Arunachal Pradesh, Yajik had undergone a selection trial held by the Indian Body Builders Federation and the Bodybuilding Association of Kerala in Ernakulam, Kerala. After clearing the selection trial, she secured a spot in the Asian Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Championship and the World Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Championship.
I'm delighted as India's Miss Hillang Yajik wins 1 Gold and 1 Silver Medal at 15th South Asian Bodybuilding & Physique Sports Championships 2025 at Thimphu in Bhutan.
Hillang Yajik is from Arunachal Pradesh, who has created a history. Hearty Congratulations to Hillang Yajik! pic.twitter.com/wCO98htLHG
— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) June 15, 2025
After her historic achievement, Yajik spoke exclusively to NDTV. "These medals are very important for my state since female body building is not popular. My next aim is Asian and World Championship. I want to win medal for the country," Hillang said.
The body builder said she wants to become a police officer. "I started bodybuilding randomly, but then I got inspired and I took the sport seriously," she said. "Initially it was challenging. People don't like women with muscles. I want to become a police officer and also keep pursuing body building."
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India's Yajik Hillang won Gold medal at the 15th South Asian Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Championships 2025 at Thimphu in Bhutan | Credit: Instagran A pioneering Indian physique athlete, Hillang Yajik hails from the Kurung Kumey area of Arunachal Pradesh. She made history by being the first female bodybuilder from her state to win significant international medals at the young age of 24 or 25. She won gold and silver in the Women's Model Physique (up to 155 cm) division in the 15th South Asian Bodybuilding & Physique Sports Championships in Thimphu, Bhutan, in June 2025. This was an unprecedented accomplishment for athletes from Northeast India. From taking home silver at the India Federation Cup in Goa in April 2024 to securing berths for the Asian and World championships, her ascent has been extraordinary. Hillang, who was born on January 20, 2000, has a master's degree in political science and balances her sports career with jobs as a fitness trainer and dance instructor. Her local bodybuilding association, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, and Chief Minister Pema Khandu of Arunachal Pradesh have praised her, and she has now encouraged more women in northeastern India to participate in physique sports. Hillang Yajik's career A pioneering Indian physique athlete, Hillang Yajik hails from the Kurung Kumey area of Arunachal Pradesh. She made history by being the first female bodybuilder from her state to win significant international medals at the young age of 24 or 25. She won gold and silver in the Women's Model Physique (up to 155 cm) division in the 15th South Asian Bodybuilding & Physique Sports Championships in Thimphu, Bhutan, in June 2025. This was an unprecedented accomplishment for athletes from Northeast India. From taking home silver at the India Federation Cup in Goa in April 2024 to securing berths for the Asian and World championships, her ascent has been extraordinary. Hillang, who was born on January 20, 2000, has a master's degree in political science and balances her sports career with jobs as a fitness trainer and dance instructor. Her local bodybuilding association, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, and Chief Minister Pema Khandu of Arunachal Pradesh have praised her, and she has now encouraged more women in northeastern India to participate in physique sports. Hillang made her debut at the Federation Cup in Gangtok, Sikkim, in March 2022, where she placed fourth in the Women's Model Physique (above 165 cm) division. Even though she didn't place first, it guaranteed her a spot in the elite national tournament. At the Eastern Zone National Championships in Kolkata in November 2022, she won a silver medal in the Model Physique category, her first national honor. Her emerging prominence in Indian physical sports was proclaimed by that performance. April of 2024 An important turning point With a silver in the Women's Sports Physique category in Goa, Hillang became the first female athlete from Arunachal Pradesh to win a medal at the Federation Cup. Her stellar performance and dedication towards fitness has won her 1 Gold & 1 Silver medal at the 15th South Asian Bodybuilding & Physique | Credit: Instagram Kochi will participate in the 15th WBPF World Bodybuilding and Physique Championships in the Maldives (November 5–11, 2024) and the 56th Asian Bodybuilding and Physique Championships in Batam, Indonesia (August 6–12, 2024) in May 2024. With gold in the women's model physique (155 cm), silver in another physique division, and bronze in the swimsuit physique event, Hillang made her name in the 15th South Asian Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Championships in Thimpu, Bhutan, in June 2025. She became the first female physique athlete from Arunachal Pradesh to win an international gold medal, which was a historic accomplishment. Hillang has elevated the local start to national and worldwide prominence and cleared the way for female athletes in Arunachal. She will continue to compete in elite international events following her 2025 triumph, most likely the Asian and WBPF World Championships. She is becoming a well-known inspiration, encouraging people from far-flung regions of India to participate in sports and push themselves. Hillang Yajik's gold award. Hillang Yajik's trophies Gold in Women's Model Physique (≤155 cm) Silver in Other Physique Division Bronze in Swimsuit Physique Event Hillang Yajik: From Arunachal's Hills to South Asian Physique Glory — Pema Khandu པདྨ་མཁའ་འགྲོ་། (@PemaKhanduBJP) June 15, 2025 Hillang Yajik, a 24‑year‑old athlete from the remote Kurung Kumey district in Arunachal Pradesh, has become a trailblazer for women's physique sports in India. At the 15th South Asian Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Championships held in Thimphu, Bhutan from June 11–15, 2025, she claimed gold in the Women's Model Physique (up to 155 cm) category and secured an additional silver medal—an unprecedented achievement for any woman from her state. Her victory resonated deeply across political and sporting circles—Chief Minister Pema Khandu lauded her as a 'trailblazer in every sense,' while Union Minister Kiren Rijiju praised her for 'creating history'. The Arunachal Bodybuilding Association also attributed her win to her discipline and ambition, believing it will inspire future female athletes from the Northeast.
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Hillang Yajik, 25, hailing from Arunachal Pradesh, has created history by winning one gold and a bronze medal at the 15th South Asian Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Championships 2025, that was held in Thimpu, Bhutan from June 11 to 15. She made history by becoming the first female athlete from Arunachal Pradesh to clinch a gold medal at the international level. The 25-year-old got into the limelight after being chosen to represent India at the 56th Asian Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Championship last year. Furthermore, she also participated in the 15th WBPF World Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Championship. Born in Kurung Kumey, Arunachal Pradesh, Yajik had undergone a selection trial held by the Indian Body Builders Federation and the Bodybuilding Association of Kerala in Ernakulam, Kerala. After clearing the selection trial, she secured a spot in the Asian Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Championship and the World Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Championship. I'm delighted as India's Miss Hillang Yajik wins 1 Gold and 1 Silver Medal at 15th South Asian Bodybuilding & Physique Sports Championships 2025 at Thimphu in Bhutan. Hillang Yajik is from Arunachal Pradesh, who has created a history. Hearty Congratulations to Hillang Yajik! — Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) June 15, 2025 After her historic achievement, Yajik spoke exclusively to NDTV. "These medals are very important for my state since female body building is not popular. My next aim is Asian and World Championship. I want to win medal for the country," Hillang said. The body builder said she wants to become a police officer. "I started bodybuilding randomly, but then I got inspired and I took the sport seriously," she said. "Initially it was challenging. People don't like women with muscles. I want to become a police officer and also keep pursuing body building."
