Photo via Hindustan Times

Asian Games: How elite female athletes adapt training during their period

Top Indian female competitors are highlighting how hormonal fluctuations and menstrual cycles directly influence their athletic preparation and output. Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, lifter Gyaneshwari Yadav, and long jumper Ancy Sojan have opened up about managing physical challenges ranging from standard menstrual discomforts to metabolic conditions like Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome ahead of their upcoming Asian Games appearances.

Sojan noted that her condition leads to weight gain and disrupted sleep, which complicates her maintenance of a competitive jumping physique. Meanwhile, Yadav modifies her routine during the opening days of her cycle by skipping heavy lower-body squats, utilizing dark chocolate and heating pads for relief as she prepares for tournament scenarios.