Who is Hillang Yajik? Meet the first female from Arunachal to win gold at South Asian bodybuilding championships

Time of India

11 hours ago

Know about Hillang Yajik: India's presence on the international physique sports stage has been amplified by Hillang Yajik, the 24‑year‑old powerhouse from Arunachal Pradesh, who clinched gold in the Women's Model Physique (up to 155 cm) category at the 15th South Asian Bodybuilding & Physique Sports Championships in Thimphu, Bhutan.
Not only did she stand atop the podium, but she also added a silver medal to her haul, making history as the first woman from her state to earn international medals in physique sports.
Her triumph, widely celebrated across social media and the sporting community, underscores her dedication and hard work. This milestone sets a new benchmark for India's northeast athletes and commands full attention to her inspiring journey.
Who is Hillang Yajik?
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.