Monikha Sonowal, a 19-year-old weightlifter from Assam, clinched the gold medal in the women’s 48kg weightlifting category at the Khelo India Tribal Games 2026. Despite coming from a small village where dreams are limited, Monikha’s passion for weightlifting was inspired by Mirabai Chanu’s success at the Tokyo Olympics.
Hailing from a quiet village on the north bank of the Brahmaputra River, Monikha overcame limited resources to pursue her dream. Her journey to success included training at the Sports Authority of India’s National Centre of Excellence in Itanagar, where she received crucial support and guidance.
Monikha’s dedication and hard work paid off as she battled a knee injury to secure the gold medal at the Games. Despite facing challenges and doubts due to her injury, she chose to compete and emerged victorious, setting her sights on representing India in the future.
