Injury‑Plagued Heptathlete Swagna Berman Steps Away from Sport

After a decade of highs and lows, Swagna Berman has decided to retire from elite athletics. The former Asian Games champion, who became the first Indian heptathlete to stand atop the podium in Jakarta, revealed that her body could no longer withstand the strain of high‑intensity training. She spoke of battling a slipped disc, multiple knee surgeries and the mental toll of repeated rehabilitation. Despite the setbacks, Berman’s résumé includes a 2017 Asian Championship gold, silver medals at the 2019 and 2023 Asian Championships, a pentathlon silver at the 2023 Asian Indoor Championships, and a podium finish at the 2025 National Open. The Arjuna Award she received in 2019 remains a testament to her contribution to Indian sport.