Kodagu’s Thekkada Bhavani Wins Silver at Merino Muster Cross-Country Skiing Event in New Zealand

A historic finish at the Merino Muster in New Zealand as Bhavani becomes the first Indian woman to win a medal at a Worldloppet event.

New Zealand: Thekkada Bhavani from Kodagu has scripted a notable achievement in Indian winter sports by winning a silver medal at the Merino Muster cross-country skiing event held at Snow Farm in New Zealand.

Competing in the Women’s 30s age category in the 21-km race on August 22, Bhavani completed the course in 1:34:38. With the performance, she became the first Indian woman to participate in and win a medal at an official Worldloppet Skiing Federation event.

The Merino Muster is one of New Zealand’s premier long-distance cross-country skiing competitions and forms part of the international Worldloppet circuit. While the flagship race covers 42 km, the 21-km event provided Bhavani with an opportunity to test herself in long-distance racing and ski-marathon formats.

The silver medal adds to Bhavani’s growing list of international achievements. During the 2025-26 winter season, she became the first Indian woman to win a medal in an International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) competition. She is also the first Indian cross-country skier to qualify for and compete in the FIS Cross-Country Ski World Cup.

Her participation in the Merino Muster marks a further expansion of her competitive experience, from sprint and distance events to longer endurance races.

Bhavani is currently undergoing an extended international training programme at Snow Farm. Her preparation and overseas exposure have been supported financially and logistically by the Reliance Foundation and the Government of Karnataka. The state government, through its Department of Youth Empowerment and Sports, has provided Rs 10 lakh towards her training.

Reflecting on her performance, Bhavani said her first Worldloppet race was an important test of the endurance training she has been undertaking. She added that winning a medal in the 21-km category has given her significant confidence as she prepares for the upcoming international season.

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