Unrack in the Spotlight: Hindustan Times Features Our Mission to Revolutionize Women’s Lifting Gear

We’re thrilled to share that Hindustan Times recently featured Unrack in an insightful article written by Sharda Ugra, one of India’s most respected sports journalists. The piece dives into the journey of our founder, Sahana Gopal, from being a stem-cell scientist and strength & conditioning (S&C) coach for British Diving at two Olympics to leading a company that’s redefining weightlifting equipment for women.

Challenging the Status Quo in Women’s Strength Training

The article highlights a crucial issue in the fitness industry—why is most gym equipment still designed for men? Sahana, now CEO of Unrack, is tackling this head-on.

As Sharda Ugra writes, most women’s fitness conversations still revolve around low-impact workouts and pastel-colored dumbbells, but Unrack is breaking those stereotypes. Our mission is clear: to manufacture world-class, India-made lifting equipment that considers the biomechanics of all lifters, especially women.

From Science to Strength: Sahana’s Unconventional Path

The feature also details Sahana’s transition from a PhD in Biomedical Science and Engineering at Imperial College London to coaching elite divers and, eventually, founding Unrack. Her time working with British Diving, including contributing to medal-winning performances at the Tokyo and Paris Olympics, gave her a unique perspective on how strength training can elevate performance across all sports.

Her experience in both elite sports and scientific research has been pivotal in designing Unrack’s products. From weightlifting bars with optimized grip diameters to adjustable power racks that accommodate diverse body types, Unrack’s designs challenge the one-size-fits-all approach that dominates the fitness industry.

The Road Ahead for Unrack and Women in Strength Sports

The Hindustan Times article also discusses the reception of Unrack’s innovations in the Indian fitness industry. While some elite sports teams have already tested and approved our products, convincing the market that India can produce world-class strength equipment remains a challenge.

One of the most striking moments from the article? Sahana’s experience at the National Strength & Conditioning Association (NSCA) conference, where she expected skepticism but instead found genuine curiosity and respect. Seeing a 5’2” woman lift heavy challenged preconceptions and sparked meaningful conversations about strength training for women.

Read the Full Article

We’re honored to have Unrack’s story featured by Hindustan Times and written by Sharda Ugra. It’s an important step toward changing perceptions about women’s strength training and India’s ability to produce world-class lifting equipment.

Read the full article [here]