KUALA LUMPUR – Going against gender stereotypes and social barriers, 29-year-old Vinohsha Muniandi enjoys participating in extreme masculine sports.
The avid hiker who enjoys sports, adventurous activities, and trekking, has been going at it for the past 22 years.
Her enjoyment for thrill is evident since young when she was a sprinter throughout her school years. While pursuing her tertiary studies, she began to develop an interest in sports and outdoor activities.
Her passion for ascending mountains began in 2011, when she hiked Mount Kinabalu after being chosen for an inter-university hiking expedition organised by the Higher Education Ministry.
In an interview with Varnam, she said “I was so taken aback by the view that, despite the fact that climbing to the top was extremely hard, the pain and obstacles I encountered was worth it.
“At the time, I had no idea how much I would come to love hiking, I haven’t stopped since.”
Depending on the hike she is preparing for based on her schedule and the requirements, Vinohsha makes it a priority to practise hiking on a weekly basis.
She has also taken up long-distance running, conquered half-marathons, paragliding, rock climbing, and martial arts.
With the encouragement of her parents and family, she gained more confidence to continue her pursuit and was not subject to any limits.
As of now, she has summited Mount Rinjani, Kawah Ijen, Mount Kerinci in Indonesia, and Mount Fansipan in Vietnam.
During her climbing journeys, Vinohsha has met many adventure seekers that shared her passion for hiking. They now serve as her support system in travelling and hiking together.
“It’s always exciting to venture into nature and meet people, I guess that is also another reason why I enjoy this activity so much,” she said.
She added that she has always enjoyed pushing and challenging herself, sometimes even putting herself in unpleasant situations that have made her braver and more resilient, both in the wild and in everyday life.
Vinohsha said being in unpleasant circumstances without access to toilets or having to change clothes while trekking teaches an individual to think and adapt quickly to the situation.
She also encourages women to chase after their passions and take risks head-on. One does not need to jump to the extreme on the get-go, she said, but only needs a tiny start to eventually achieve greater heights.
Her next mission is to ascend the Annapurna Base Camp in the foothills of the Himalayas in August. Located 4,130 metres above sea level, eight other hikers will also be participating in the 10-day expedition.
The mission is to wave the Jalur Gemilang at the base camp in commemoration of Merdeka on August 31. – The Vibes, July 15, 2022.
