Raipur (Chhattisgarh), March 27 (ANI): Monikha Sonowal, a weightlifter from Assam, won gold in the women’s 48kg category at the Khelo India Tribal Games. After her victory, she tried calling her father, Padmadhar, a mason who works long hours at construction sites to support their family.
Monikha comes from Batghoria Penbeni Chowk, a small village in Assam’s Dhemaji district. Life there is quiet, and most people focus on daily tasks. But Monikha had bigger dreams. Inspired by the success of Mirabai Chanu, she developed a passion for weightlifting despite having few resources.
Her journey took a big turn two years ago when she joined the Sports Authority of India’s National Centre of Excellence in Itanagar. This opportunity provided her with proper training, nutrition, and support, which helped her improve significantly.
Monikha has won several medals, including gold at the 2023 School Nationals and silver at the Khelo India ASMITA League in 2024. However, her road to success was not easy. For three months before the games, she dealt with a knee injury that made training difficult. Her coaches advised her to rest, but Monikha decided to compete anyway.
“I didn’t want to miss this chance,” she said. “I want to keep getting better and represent India someday.” Her hard work paid off as she won gold, overcoming both physical pain and self-doubt.