In December 2025, Bethlyne Grace Makri’s coaches noticed her potential as a race-walker at the SAI Sports Training Centre in Shillong. Despite her unfamiliarity with the event’s technical aspects, Bethlyne, who previously competed in middle- and long-distance running, embraced the challenge of transitioning to race walking in early 2026.
Coming from the Khasi tribe, Bethlyne faced initial difficulties adapting to the new discipline, experiencing physical strain and struggling to grasp the race walking technique. With unwavering support from her coaches and family, she overcame the challenges and prepared for the Khelo India Tribal Games 2026 in Jagdalpur.
Bethlyne’s perseverance paid off when she secured the bronze medal in the women’s race walk, finishing with a time of 1:05:18. She credited her success to the continuous encouragement from her coaches and family, emphasizing the importance of their support in her journey.
Bethlyne expressed gratitude for the backing she received, acknowledging the significant role it played in her achievement. As the only race walker from Meghalaya to medal at the national level, she hopes her success will inspire other youngsters to consider pursuing race walking professionally.
