Dolcy D’Cruz
This Women’s Day, we celebrate the courage, resilience, and achievements of women who break barriers and inspire change. From sports and adventure to leadership and innovation, women everywhere are proving that passion and determination have no limits. Their stories motivate others to dream bigger and pursue their goals fearlessly.
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Aashna Ahmed: Racing towards her dreams
Aashna Ahmed, a second year student of Rosary College of Commerce and Arts, Navelim, has been steadily making her mark in the world of racing while balancing academics and sports. Her journey in racing began at a very young age, when she was just five years old as she had a deep passion for motorsports and competitive racing. Her first major race took place in 2018 in Vasco, where she participated in the Junior Invitational Supercross Racing 2018. Aashna secured first place in the event, where she was the only female participant and the youngest too. Aashna was introduced to the sport by her cousin brother, Javed Shaikh, a professional Supercross racer who has achieved remarkable success in the sport. In January 2024, she secured fourth place at the Cheryl Sequeira Memorial Supercross Goa 2024, followed by winning first place in the Ladies Class at Dirtcross Goa 2024, third place in Time Attack event and second place at the Time Trial Goa. She has also participated in several rounds of the MRF MoGrip Supercross Championship.
She also enjoys playing football, handball, and boxing. She represented Goa in 2023, in the Goa Under-18 Football Team at the Subroto Cup held in Delhi. In 2025, she was also part of the Goa Handball Team that participated in the 38th National Games held in Uttarakhand. Aashna believes that her journey would not have been possible without the constant support of her family and friends. She especially acknowledges Sabrin Shah, a very close friend who has been like a sister to her as a strong source of motivation.
“I would like to encourage more women and girls to step forward, follow their passion, and break stereotypes. Whether in motorsports, other sports, or any field, women are equally strong and capable. I hope to inspire more women to come forward, compete, and prove that passion and determination have no gender,” says Aashna.
Preyasee Chari: Inspiring strength through endurance and fitness
At 55, Preyasee Chari from Margao has become a remarkable name in the world of endurance running. She has been competing in marathons, ultra-marathons, and trail races across India, inspiring many women to embrace fitness and challenge their limits. In 2025, she completed the legendary Comrades Marathon in South Africa. Covering approximately 90 kilometres and known for its demanding elevation changes, the race is considered one of the toughest ultramarathons in the world. By completing this gruelling event, she became the first Goan woman to finish the Comrades Ultra Marathon, marking a historic milestone for endurance sports in Goa.
Her performances in national races have also been impressive. At the MG Vadodara Marathon, a 42-kilometre race in Gujarat, she consistently finished among the top runners in her age category over the past three years. She has completed three full marathons in which she secured first place in her category. Although she completed the Comrades Marathon in June, she has since focused mainly on shorter competitive distances such as 42 km, 21 km, and 10 km races, where she continues to achieve podium finishes. For instance, she secured first place in the 50+ category in the 10 km race at the Goa River Marathon in December.
This mother of two sons is a yoga instructor and fitness mentor. “I practice yoga and gym training every day and go running four days a week. My disciplined routine helps to maintain the strength and endurance required for long-distance racing,” she says.
Many women often ask how I manage to maintain such high levels of fitness. The answer is simple, dedicate at least one hour each day to personal health and well-being.When women take time for their own health, whether through running, yoga, gym workouts, or activities like Zumba, they become stronger not only physically but also mentally. This strength helps them manage daily responsibilities, reduce stress, and inspire their families. When a mother stays fit, the entire family benefits, as children and loved ones are encouraged to adopt healthy habits as well,” says Preyasee.
Karishma Verlekar: A decade of adventure in the mountains
For Karishma Verlekar, the mountains have become a place of challenge, discovery, and personal growth. Based in Margao, Karishma has spent nearly a decade exploring some of the world’s most breathtaking trekking routes. During her school and college years, rarely missed school trips, excursions, or treks, and she naturally gravitated toward adventure. Even later in life, she maintained a strong fitness routine and was actively involved in distance running and marathons.
My journey into high-altitude trekking truly began in 2016 when a group of her friends planned a trek to the famous Everest Base Camp in Nepal. The trek, which typically lasts around 12 days of hiking with a total expedition of about 15 days, is considered a challenging adventure for many first-time trekkers. Despite having no prior experience with long-distance mountain trekking, I decided to take on the challenge along with my husband, Gautam,” says Karishma.
After successfully completing the Everest Base Camp trek, Karishma continued exploring more challenging expeditions every year. One of her major accomplishments was climbing MountKilimanjaro in Tanzania, where she completed the summit trek. She also completed the demanding GoechalaTrek in Sikkim, India. “Though not the highest trek, it is considered one of the more challenging routes because of its rugged terrain and minimal facilities. Trekkers often camp in tents and endure tough conditions, making it a physically and mentally demanding experience,” she informs. Her highest and most challenging achievement so far was climbing Mera Peak in Nepal.
Karishma is the mother of two daughters, Shanaya and Samaira. Her elder daughter Shanaya even joined her on a trek to Everest Base Camp when she was in Class 8.
Whatever you’re doing, nothing comes easy. You have to prepare for any activity or setting any goals, not only sport but even in business, or any lifestyle goals. There is no pain, no gain. You have to work towards it. You have to be disciplined. It’s better to have a routine where every day it’s like maintaining a proper diet and going for your workouts. It gets much easier when you have a routine and everything is planned because I’m more of a planner,” advices Karishma.
Sabrin Shah: A trailblazing woman rider from Sattari
Valpoi-based Sabrin Shah’s love for biking began in childhood. One of her earliest memories is of sitting in front of her father on a motorcycle while he let her hold and control the handlebar. That small moment sparked a passion that would shape her life. By the time she was in Class 8, she was riding a Yamaha RX confidently. She would often join her brother and his group of friends on rides, exploring both roads and off-road tracks, which helped her develop her riding skills and confidence. A major turning point in Sabrin’s life came in 2017 when she secured second place in a Supercross event and created history by becoming the first girl from Goa to compete in Supercross at the national level. In 2018, she took part in an off-track race for women, where she completed the track in the fastest time of 2 minutes and 18 seconds, securing first place.
Sabrin also rides through solo trips and touring journeys. She has been part of many riding groups and has even co-led groups on different rides. Recently, she and fellow riders founded their own group called ‘Rides For Riders.’ At the same time, she is also the only female member of an off-road boys’ group known as ‘Tapla Boys.’ In 2025, Sabrin became the first girl from Sattari Taluka to complete a journey to Leh–Ladakh, covering some of the highest motorable passes in the world. The ride began in Belagavi, Karnataka, where she joined a group of female riders from South India. Sabrin was the only participant from Goa in that group.
“I also run a moto school where I teaches women how to ride motorcycles. I train female riders on both non-geared scooters and geared motorcycles, helping many women gain confidence and independence on the road. I continues to ride, organise tours, and inspire more women to enter the world of motorcycling,” says Sabrin.
