Overcoming health issues with strong determination and hard work, Anai Wangshu, a budding weightlifter from Arunachal Pradesh, clinched a Gold medal at the Khelo India Tribal Games in Raipur on Saturday. She secured the top position in the women’s 58 kg weightlifting category. Just a few days before leaving for Raipur for the first edition of the Khelo India Tribal Games, the 21-year-old weightlifter was confined to a hospital bed. Her recurring gastric problem flared up again, leaving her weak and dehydrated. With her participation in doubt, she was put on intravenous fluids to regain strength. However, her determination helped her return strongly and finish at the top of the podium, bringing laurels to her state.

 

The struggle was not new for Anai, as she has been battling this condition since 2019. The illness often strikes without warning and leaves her exhausted and physically drained a major challenge in a sport like weightlifting where strength and balance are crucial. Instead of giving in to the setback, Anai made a determined comeback. Just a day after being discharged from hospital, she resumed training with renewed focus, driven by a strong desire to change her story of repeatedly falling short at crucial moments in her career. After clinching the gold medal, Anai said she had earlier won bronze and silver medals, and her family would often ask when she would finally secure gold. She said everyone is now very happy that she has achieved that long-awaited goal.

 

Earlier, Anai bagged two bronze medals at the Youth Nationals. She also secured silver medals in various Khelo India competitions, including the 2025 Khelo India University Games held in Rajasthan. However, the gold medal had always eluded her. Last year, at the All India University Nationals, she missed out on gold by just one lift after running out of the one-minute time limit. Recalling that moment, she said she cried a lot, feeling as if all her hard work had gone in vain. Belonging to the Wangcho tribe,

 

Anai’s journey in weightlifting is closely linked to the dreams of her elder brother, Sinchad Bansu, a former national-level weightlifter who now serves in the Arunachal Pradesh Police. It was he who first took her to the Sports Authority of India centre in Itanagar for trials. Initially, Anai was not interested in weightlifting and aspired to become a boxer, inspired by the story of Mary Kom. However, her brother convinced her to focus on weightlifting, and she was soon selected for advanced training at the National Centre of Excellence in Lucknow. Speaking about her future aspirations, Anai said that winning gold at the Khelo India Tribal Games has boosted her confidence and strengthened her dream of representing India at international level.