Jujitsu player Rohini Kalam found dead; sister blames work pressure for suicide

International Jujitsu player and martial arts coach Rohini Kalam, who represented India at multiple international tournaments including.

The Asian Games, was found dead at her residence in Dewas, Madhya Pradesh, on Sunday. Police have said that preliminary evidence points to suicide. She was 35 years old. According to officials, the incident occurred at the family’s home in Arjun Nagar, Radhaganj. Rohini’s younger sister, Roshni Kalam, discovered her hanging in her room and alerted the family. She was rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared her brought dead.

At the time of the incident, Rohini’s mother and sister were at a temple, and her father — a retired Bank Note Press employee — was away. Police confirmed that no suicide note was found.

Roshni told police that Rohini had been under severe stress due to workplace issues. She had been working as a martial arts coach at a private school in Ashta and had reportedly been facing harassment from the school’s management. “She was constantly worried about her job and often upset after speaking with her principal,” Roshni said.

Family members said Rohini had recently undergone stomach surgery and had been unwell. They also mentioned that she had been trying to secure the Vikram Award for two consecutive years without success and had aspirations of becoming an IPS officer.

Police have registered a case at the Bank Note Press police station and launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death.

Rohini began her martial arts journey in 2007 and turned professional in 2015. She represented India at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, competed at the World Games in Birmingham, and earned several international medals — including bronze at the Thailand Open Grand Prix 2022 and another bronze at the 8th Asian Jujitsu Championship 2024 in Abu Dhabi. She had also qualified for the Combat Games in Saudi Arabia.