With Olympics 2028 as goal, India’s Zahabiya Merchant racing through obstacles

When we hear about the sport, Obstacle Course Racing (OCR), our minds quickly go to the popular show American Ninja Warrior.

OCR blends running with a variety of tough physical challenges such as rope climbs, wall crawls, and mud pits. These obstacles are designed to push participants’ endurance, strength, and resilience to the limit, making it a true test of both physical and mental toughness. The sport has been growing fast and will now find its place in the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.

This has certainly raised the hopes of India’s Zahabiya Merchant, who dreams of representing the country at the grand stage of the Olympics. An International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA)-certified coach, fitness professional and two-time winner of India’s Devils Circuit, Zahabiya has made big strides in the sport with a 5th place finish at the Spartan Race in Thailand and the Wild Warrior Race in Chennai. Currently working as a mind and fitness coach at the TRF space in Mumbai, the OCR athlete is aiming to inspire many athletes to take up the sport.

Zahabiya finds parallels between life and OCR
In simple words, Zahabiya decided to draw a parallel between life and OCR while describing the sport. The 27-year-old feels that OCR teaches a person to adapt and be aware of getting through obstacles.

“So, obstacle course racing is basically climbing, crawling, jumping, balancing, combined with running. So it tests your strength, endurance, agility through obstacles like mud pits, walls, ropes. So I like to parallel OCR to life in general, like how we navigate through obstacles in life. I think it teaches you to adapt and be aware of getting through obstacles successfully,” said Zahabiya.

Taking up the sport was no accident for the 27-year-old athlete. She recalled how, in 2019, she took part in her first obstacle course race and felt ‘completely alive’ at the moment.

“Actually, picking that one moment is really tough, but I think it happened back in 2019. So I was participating in an obstacle course race for the first time, and I was fairly confident. I managed to complete the obstacles. But for me, endurance running was a task because I was a sprinter in my school days. So that’s when I realised that, facing these challenges, overcoming obstacles and endurance running, it really tested me. So it made me feel like I’m completely present at the moment, and I’m, like, fully alive. So I feel that was the moment that I realised OCR is my spot,” said Zahabiya.

Like any other Indian athlete, Zahabiya’s main goal is to compete in the 2028 Olympics in LA. However, she is also using her time as a coach to prepare herself for the big challenge in four years.

“I’m an active athlete currently and taking part in Olympics 2028 is a goal. So I think even taking part in the TVS Spartan race, which is coming to India, will give me an opportunity to experience challenging obstacles and prepare myself for the Olympics as well. Besides that, I think training young talents along with training myself, is something I love to do.”

“I work with a fitness brand based in Mumbai called TRF Space. We are the first OCR studio based in Mumbai, promoting the sport across generations. We train like the young and the old ones, to compete in OCR races, build awareness and allow growth for the sport. I also take pride in saying one of our students, a female, reached the podium in an OCR race.”

“So I feel like pushing myself along with my students is something that I take pride in,” said Zahabiya.

The 27-year-old also feels that India does have the talent to compete with the big names on the globe when it comes to the Olympics. Zahabiya said that with the right coaching and training, the Indian athletes can compete with others on the global stage.

“With more OCR races coming up, like Spartan in India, especially people with talent and passion, can enhance their skills, become ready to compete on a more global platform with different people from across the globe.”

“So Spartan, because it’s a worldwide name, allows so many people to sort of get out there and test themselves and get ready for OCR, which is coming up in 2028.”

“I think with the right coaching, the right guidance, India can compete with the best in the world. And I think my coach, who is one of the best, Abhijeet Ghadge, India, has a real chance to sort of shine in the obstacle course racing event at the Olympics as well,” said Zahabiya.

While she does dream about being an OCR athlete for India in the Olympics, Zahabiya is also a great dancer. She said that dance has a dual purpose in her training regime as it helps her to regain her focus and unwind at the same time.

“Dancing for me is more like therapy. It pumps me up and relaxes me at the same time. I’m a mind and movement coach, so I feel like it’s a very energising activity, which I do from time to time, just to focus on myself and unwind,” said Zahabiya.

With OCR picking up the pace, expect Zahabiya to be one of the leading names in the sport, especially when the LA Olympics comes around in 4 years.