Think twice before you say ‘Biking’ is a man’s sport! A 23-year-old girl biker defied all the odds as she annexed the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) Bajas World Cup in women’s category in Hungary on August 12. Aishwarya Pissay, the biker from Bengaluru made history by becoming the first Indian to win a world title in motorsports. The event was conducted by the International Motorcycling Federation, the governing body for motorcycle racing in the world.

Aishwarya had won the first round in Dubai, came third in Portugal, fifth in Spain, and fourth in Hungary with a total point tally of 65 points giving a narrow four points lead against Portugal’s Rita Viera in the overall standings for women. In the Hungarian Baja, Aishwaraya’s fourth position had added 13 points to India, whereas her counterpart Viera who came third bagged 13 points.

Aishwarya had an advantage over her rivals as she was the only one to have competed in all the four rounds.

Aishwarya also finished second in the FIM Junior category on August 11. She clinched the spot with 46 points, a 14 points gap from the winner Tomas de Gavardo of Chile.

After the podium ceremony in Hungary, Aishwarya said, “It’s absolutely overwhelming. I am out of words.” She in her victory speech also mentioned her crash in last year’s Baja Aragon Rally in Spain. Last year, Aishwarya became the first Indian female ride to compete in the Baja Aragon Rally. However, she crashed and ruptured pancreas in the process. The injuries she sustained were career-threatening.

Aishwarya Pissay of TVS clinches the Fim Baja World Cup 2019 Women’s Category. She finished 4th in the Hungary Round which concluded today. #Fmsci congratulates India’s first #FIM World Cup champion. pic.twitter.com/ftPndXOApv

— FMSCI (@fmsci) August 12, 2019

She said, “It was a tough phase of my life, but I believed in myself and was determined to get back on the bike which I did is nearly six months.” She also said that this is a huge win for her and will improve her performance because of the experience she gained.

Aishwarya who learnt to ride a bike five years ago is also credited with a title of becoming only Indian women to have won five national road racing and rally championship titles.

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