New Delhi/Navada: At an age when many professionals are approaching the later stages of their careers, 52-year-old Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer Ekta Vishnoi has achieved a remarkable milestone in international sports. The 1999-batch officer, currently serving as Joint Secretary in the Government of India’s Department of Biotechnology, has won three gold medals at the World Masters Classic and Equipped Powerlifting Championships in Reno, Nevada, USA.
Competing in the Masters 2 (M2) category for athletes aged 50–59, in the 57 kg weight division, Ms Vishnoi recorded a combined lift of 362.5 kg to finish ahead of competitors from Canada and Japan.
Her achievement becomes even more striking considering that she began weight training at the age of 45, initially with the simple objective of maintaining her health and fitness. Seven years later, she has emerged as an international gold medallist while continuing to discharge her responsibilities as a senior government officer.
Three Gold Medals and a Combined Lift of 362.5 Kg
At the championship in Nevada, Ms Vishnoi secured gold medals in the squat, deadlift and overall total categories.
Her performance across the three powerlifting disciplines was:
- Squat – 130 kg
- Bench press – 72.5 kg
- Deadlift – 160 kg
- Combined total – 362.5 kg
Her total placed her ahead of the Canadian competitor, who lifted 330 kg, and the Japanese competitor, who finished with 325 kg.
The World Masters Classic and Equipped Powerlifting Championships bring together experienced athletes from different countries to compete across age and bodyweight categories. In powerlifting, competitors perform squat, bench press and deadlift, with the combined weight determining their overall total.
Ms Vishnoi’s performance has also been described in reports as a historic achievement for an Indian woman in the Masters 2 category.
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Who Is Ekta Vishnoi? Know Her Education and IRS Career
Ekta Vishnoi is a 1999-batch officer of the Indian Revenue Service (Income Tax). She currently serves as Joint Secretary in the Department of Biotechnology under the Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India.
Her academic background is equally impressive. She completed a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Chemistry before pursuing a Master’s degree in Organic Chemistry from the University of Delhi, where she was a university gold medallist. She also holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree.
After clearing the Civil Services Examination, she joined the Indian Revenue Service in 1999. During her induction training, she received the Finance Minister’s Gold Medal for her performance as an officer trainee.
Over the course of her civil service career, Ms Vishnoi has worked in important areas of the Income Tax Department, including investigation, assessment and headquarters assignments.
Her professional experience also extends to sports administration, an area that would later become closely connected with her personal interests.
From Fit India Mission to the Department of Biotechnology
Before her present assignment, Ms Vishnoi served as Deputy Director General of the Sports Authority of India (SAI), where she was associated with national sports development programmes.
She also served as Mission Director of the Fit India Movement and held responsibilities connected with the Khelo India initiative.
These assignments gave her experience in promoting fitness, participation in sports and physical activity across different sections of society.
In August 2024, she was appointed Joint Secretary in the Department of Biotechnology. Her present responsibilities involve senior-level administration in a central government department concerned with biotechnology research and development.
While her professional life has been devoted to public administration, her sporting achievements have added another dimension to her career.
Started Weight Training at 45, Not to Win Medals but to Stay Fit
Unlike athletes who begin their sporting careers during childhood or adolescence, Ms Vishnoi entered strength training relatively late.
She was around 45 when she first began lifting weights, after years of balancing professional commitments with family responsibilities, including raising her children and managing their school routines.
Her original motivation was not international competition. She wanted to remain physically fit, improve her strength and maintain her health as she grew older.
What began as a personal fitness decision gradually developed into serious powerlifting training.
Through consistent practice, disciplined preparation and guidance from her coach, she progressed from basic strength exercises to competitive lifting.
Her journey challenges the widespread assumption that demanding strength sports must be taken up at a young age.
Training in a Tin-Shed Gym Before Office Hours
One of the most unusual aspects of Ms Vishnoi’s sporting journey is her training environment.
Rather than relying on a sophisticated, air-conditioned fitness centre, she trains in a simple exercise area covered by a tin shed in a local park.
Her training sessions are generally scheduled early in the morning, before she leaves for her government office.
During winter, tarpaulin sheets are used to reduce the impact of cold winds. In the summer months, when temperatures rise sharply, she has described pouring water over her head to cope with the heat.
Despite these conditions, she has maintained a consistent training routine.
As a Joint Secretary, she cannot always take extended leave to prepare for major championships. She therefore manages her sporting commitments around her official responsibilities.
By choosing a training location close to home, she also saves the time that would otherwise be spent travelling to a conventional gym.
Her progress demonstrates how consistent training can be sustained alongside a demanding professional career.
Coach Could Not Travel to USA, but Guided Her Through Video Calls
Ms Vishnoi faced an unexpected challenge before the World Masters Championship when her coach, Sunil Kumar, reportedly could not travel to the United States because of a visa-related issue.
Instead of allowing the setback to affect her preparation, she continued with the support of team official Binu Ibrahim.
According to reports, she remained in contact with her coach through video calls, receiving technical advice and assistance with competition strategy.
This arrangement helped her execute her lifts successfully despite the absence of her regular coach at the venue.
Acknowledging his contribution, Ms Vishnoi said:
“His technical expertise and belief in me have helped me push my limits. This achievement is the result of our collective commitment and hard work.”
Previous Medals at World, Asian and Commonwealth Championships
The three gold medals in Nevada are not Ms Vishnoi’s first achievements in competitive powerlifting.
She previously won a silver medal in the under-57 kg category at the 2025 IPF World Masters Championships.
She has also earned medals at Commonwealth and Asian powerlifting competitions.
At the 2024 National Senior Powerlifting Championship, she reportedly established records in the Masters 2 category, including a deadlift of 165 kg.
These performances demonstrate that her latest international success is the result of sustained training and competitive experience rather than a single exceptional outing.
‘Age Is No Barrier to Excellence’: Ekta Vishnoi
Reacting to her achievement, Ms Vishnoi described representing India at the international championship as a moment of immense pride.
“Winning three gold medals at the World Masters Championships and representing India on the international stage is a moment of immense pride for me. A total of 362.5kg is the result of years of discipline, perseverance and hard work,” she said, according to a Sports Authority of India press release.
She expressed hope that her achievement would encourage more women to participate in sports, particularly those who believe that they have missed the opportunity to pursue athletic ambitions.
“I hope my journey inspires more women, particularly those in their 40s and 50s, to pursue their sporting dreams and believe that age is no barrier to excellence,” she added.
Why She Encourages Women Over 40 to Take Up Strength Training
Beyond winning medals, Ms Vishnoi has sought to challenge misconceptions about women and weight training.
She advocates strength training as an important component of healthy ageing, particularly for women in their 40s and 50s.
She has spoken about the benefits of maintaining muscle strength and bone health, while questioning the belief that lifting weights necessarily gives women an excessively muscular appearance.
Her emphasis is on physical strength, mobility and long-term fitness rather than appearance alone.
Although strength training can contribute to healthy ageing, its benefits depend on appropriate exercise technique, individual health conditions and progressive training.
For Ms Vishnoi, the broader message is that women should not abandon their fitness or sporting aspirations simply because they have crossed a particular age.
An IRS Officer’s Journey That Goes Beyond Medals
Ms Vishnoi’s achievement stands out because of the contrasting responsibilities she manages.
As a senior civil servant, she works in a demanding administrative environment. As a competitive powerlifter, she must follow a structured programme of training, recovery and competition preparation.
Her journey from beginning weight training at 45 to winning three international gold medals at 52 highlights the importance of persistence and discipline.
It also offers an example of how professionals can pursue sporting ambitions later in life without necessarily stepping away from their primary careers.
For women who are considering returning to fitness or taking up a new sport in their 40s and 50s, Ekta Vishnoi’s journey carries a powerful message: meaningful sporting achievements can begin with a decision made much later in life.
