"I didn't think at 51 I'd be taking up sumo"
Manjinder Nagra was the first Sikh woman to play for England. Now at the age of 51, she is representing her country in a completely different sport – sumo wrestling.
She is preparing for the European Sumo Wrestling Championships in Scotland in June 2026.
Despite being new to the sport, Nagra secured the national championship in her weight category in April 2026.
The achievement marks a remarkable second chapter in her sporting career, three decades after her rugby breakthrough.
The mother-of-three from Hove described her latest selection as a “great honour” and said she was embracing the unexpected opportunity.
She said: “I didn’t think at 51 I’d be taking up sumo, but it’s a dream to represent your country twice in your lifetime so I’m going to grab the opportunity with both hands.”
Nagra first represented England in the 1990s after taking up rugby at Bath University. She later earned selection for England Students, breaking ground as a Sikh athlete in a predominantly white sport.
Reflecting on her early career, she said she was “quite often” the only person of Asian heritage on the pitch.
Her transition into sumo wrestling came through her involvement with the Sikh Games, where she serves as an ambassador.
During the onboarding of sumo champion Mandeep Singh Kundi, he suggested she take part in a competition hosted by his club in March.
The Sikh Games is a UK-based, not-for-profit organisation aimed at increasing ethnic minority participation in sport while bringing communities together.
Nagra said misconceptions around South Asian involvement in sport still persist, despite gradual progress in recent years.
She explained: “There’s still this perception which I think is a myth that Asian people don’t like sport… [that] all they’re concerned about is, you know, careers.
“I think there’s there’s more outreach that’s happening for sure.
“But I still think there are barriers there and to say that there aren’t, I think, is inaccurate.”
She pointed to ongoing cultural and societal challenges, including restrictions faced by athletes due to dress codes. She cited the example of a Muslim footballer who was unable to play because she wore tracksuit bottoms instead of shorts.
By competing at an international level again, Nagra hopes to inspire a new generation of athletes, particularly young girls from underrepresented backgrounds.
She added: “If you don’t try, you just won’t know.
“And I don’t know where this opportunity is going to take me, but it’s quite exciting.”
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