Alisha Abdullah is an Indian racing driver and stunt performer, widely regarded as one of the first female motorcycle and car racers from India to compete at the national and international level. She is based in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, and has competed in formats ranging from formula car racing to superbike championships.
Key facts
| Name | Alisha Abdullah |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Indian |
| Hometown | Chennai, Tamil Nadu |
| Sport | Motor racing (cars and motorcycles) |
| Father | R. A. Abdullah, former national motorcycle racing champion |
| Notable for | Pioneering Indian woman in motorsport |
Background
Alisha Abdullah was born into a family with deep roots in Indian motorsport. Her father, R. A. Abdullah, was a seven-time national motorcycle racing champion and ran a racing academy in Chennai, which exposed her to the sport from an early age. She began karting as a child and progressed to single-seater car racing and superbike racing in her teens.
Career
Karting and early racing
Alisha started competitive karting in the late 1990s and won several junior-level events in India. She subsequently moved to formula car racing, participating in the JK Tyre National Racing Championship and the Formula Rolon series held at circuits including the Madras Motor Race Track at Sriperumbudur and the Kari Motor Speedway near Coimbatore.
Motorcycle racing
She later took up motorcycle road racing, competing in the MMSC (Madras Motor Sports Club) national championship rounds and in the Honda CBR 250 one-make series. She also took part in international rounds of the Toyota Vios Cup in the Asian region, becoming one of the few Indian women to compete in such categories.
Racing academy
Alisha runs the Alisha Abdullah Racing Academy for Women in Chennai, aimed at training girls and young women in karting and motor racing, with the goal of widening female participation in Indian motorsport.
Other appearances
Beyond competitive racing, she has worked as a stunt performer and has appeared in Tamil and Hindi feature films, as well as television programmes related to motorsport and reality formats.
Significance
Alisha Abdullah's career is significant for breaking gender barriers in Indian motorsport, a discipline historically dominated by male competitors. Her presence in formula racing and superbike events, together with her academy work, has helped raise the visibility of women drivers in India and has inspired a younger generation of female racers from southern India.
Related topics
- Motorsport in India
- Madras Motor Race Track
- Kari Motor Speedway
- JK Tyre National Racing Championship
- Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India
- Women in motorsport
References
- Wikidata entity: Q16150232