Alpine ski racer Lindsey Vonn may not be a household name in India, but for a 23-year-old from Bangalore, Vonn is a role model. The adrenaline rush that drives a world champion like Vonn, also motivates Aishwarya Pissay. “The adrenaline rush that I get every time I get on a bike is tremendous. That got me hooked to the sport. The sense of freedom when the helmet goes on is what got me interested in motorsports,” she said.

She follows snowboarding, again not something that is usual in India. But frankly, Aishwarya is someone who stands out in her own right, given her choice of sport. And the fact that she excels in it at the international level.

On August 11, Aishwarya, put India on the international motorsport map by winning the FIM World Cup in the women’s category, after the fourth and final round of the championship came to an end in Varpalota (Hungary).

She became the first Indian ever to win a world title in motorsport.

Aishwarya, who won the first round in Dubai and was placed third (Portugal), fifth (Spain) and fourth (Hungary) in the subsequent outings, finished with a tally of 65 points, just four ahead of Portugal’s Rita Vieira in the final Overall standings for women.

Touching that huge milestone, Aishwarya was overwhelmed when she realised she had enough points to be the world champion.

“I was at a loss for words. Last year, during my first international season, I crashed in Spain Baja (a Spanish rally) and suffered career-threatening injuries. To recover from that and win the championship, is a great feeling,” she told The Telegraph.

In 2017 she broke her collarbone just before a race, when she was leading the FIM Championship. A year later, she injured her pancreas and that led to another surgery. Long hospital stays hampered her preparation, but she was back on the bike as soon as the doctors allowed her.

“It was a tough phase of my life, but I believed in myself and was determined to get back on the bike which I did,” she added.

Asked if she needed any modifications in her bike, she said: “ An off-road machine is designed for these terrains already. We don’t specifically change anything on the bike.”

She also added that though she was riding a 250cc bike and competing with more powerful 400cc ones, that was a regular feature in FIM rallies as they all fall under the same category.

Aishwarya, however, is lucky to have a regular sponsor in TVS Racing. “Throughout my career they help me reach my goals nationally and internationally.” She has her eyes set on the Indian National Rally to be held in Coimbatore on August 24-25.

“In Hungary, it was very difficult off-road terrain with rocks and sand of 400kms the first day and about 160km kms the second day,” she said, describing the difficulty factor in the special stages.

“Without doubt, the Hungarian Baja was one of my best races though I didn't win outright.

“It wasn’t an easy race. Given the nature of the terrain, it was more of endurance than just pace.”