At the age of 13, while most kids are juggling between school homework and enjoying the dawn of ‘teen years’, Nithila Das stands out as a remarkable young talent with her eyes firmly set on the Olympics. A motorbiking and cycling prodigy, she has already earned the title of the ‘Fastest Girl In India’ at the FIM Mini GP Championship (Girls). The teenager has already achieved an impressive tally of over 100 podium finishes and is now determined to leave her mark at the Youth Olympics 2026 and the Summer Olympics 2028 in Los Angeles. This wunderkind on two wheels is setting the race tracks ablaze with her unwavering determination and tenacity.
Nithila’s introduction to the sport began when her father introduced her and her brother to mountain biking. She has been competing unofficially at MBT Championships for the last three years.
“Although I had fun racing on cycle and motorbike, the whole competitive edge came when my younger brother started winning medals. I was encouraged to compete in professional races as well. However, since I am underage, I received a special racing license from FMSCI to ride bikes only on tracks and participate in competitions,” explains Nithila.
Hailing from a family that is crazy about motorsports, this Bengaluru girl shares an equal passion for both cycling and biking. “Cycling is my first love as I began my journey on two wheels with a cycle. I aspire to reach the Olympics for cycling and be like Jolanda Neff, my idol, and achieve her level. However, I am not going to leave motorsports completely either.”
Nithila’s father, Nikhil, played a crucial role in nurturing the biking interest in both his children. “Our dad taught us to ride a bike. We both started learning on his old bike. He has always been very supportive and encouraged us for circuit racing,” says the proud young girl.
Despite her tender age, she has relentlessly won numerous championships including the FIM MiniGP Championship 2022 National Championships (Girl), TVS Women One-Make National Championship 2022, a hat-trick of gold medals in MTB Karnataka State Champion from 2020 to 2022, double gold (ITT and Mass Start) at the Karnataka State MTB Championship 2022 and MTB National Championship third runner up 2020 and 2021, among others.
She is currently training under national MTB cycling coach Kiran Kumar Raju to strengthen her prowes in cycling. Sharing her winning mantra, she emphasizes, “In every race, I begin with the mindset that I am racing against myself instead of racing against others. My target is to beat my own time. This attitude has always helped me to give my best. Along with this, passion for the sport, consistent practice and unwavering family support have been instrumental in my success.”
Looking ahead, Nithila is gearing up to represent India in international circuits, determined to bring pride and honor to her country. Her dedication and talent make her a force to be reckoned with in the world of cycling and motorbiking.
By - Media desk
