Monikha Sonowal's Tale Of Overcoming Pain And Why Clinching KITG Gold 'Is Just The Beginning'

Last Updated:March 27, 2026, 14:16 IST

Monikha Sonowal wins historic Khelo India Tribal Games 2026 gold in 48kg weightlifting, inspired by Mirabai Chanu and supported by SAI NCOE Itanagar and her father.

From the quiet banks of the Brahmaputra to the top of the podium, 19-year-old Monikha Sonowal has proven that grit outweighs any barbell. At the inaugural Khelo India Tribal Games 2026, Monikha clinched the gold medal in the women’s 48kg weightlifting category, marking a historic win for her community in Assam and making her family proud.

For this 19-year-old, the biggest supporter in her sporting career is her father, Padmadhar Sonowal, a mason who spends long days at construction sites to support his family of four. While she was lifting gold, he was likely working at a construction site in Assam’s Dhemaji district, located on the north bank of the Brahmaputra River, and situated approximately 425 kms away from Guwahati.

Life there moves at a quiet, unhurried pace and for most families in the village, dreams rarely stretch beyond family responsibilities and making ends meet.

Monikha’s rise in the weightlifting world has been a steady climb fueled by inspiration from Olympic medalist Mirabai Chanu and professional support from the SAI National Centre of Excellence (NCOE) in Itanagar.

Knee Troubles Almost Derailed Dreams

Despite limited resources, her curiosity towards the sport gradually transformed into a passion, which on Thursday witnessed that dream transforming into a moment of national glory. Encountering many hardships, she battled a knee injury to clinch the first weightlifting gold medal of the Games, capping off the hard work she had been putting ever since she took up the sport a few years ago.

Concerned about aggravating the problem, her coaches advised her to skip the Khelo India Tribal Games. But the 19-year-old weightlifter could not bring herself to stay away. Monika chose to compete and fight through the pain.

“My coaches were worried about my knee and told me it might be better to rest," she recalled. “But opportunities like the Khelo India Tribal Games don’t come often. I didn’t want to miss competing on such a big stage. I want to keep improving and represent India one day. This gold is just the beginning," Monikha added.

For Monikha, a member of the Kachari Tribe, the trajectory of her career shifted dramatically two years ago when she joined the Sports Authority of India’s National Centre of Excellence (NCOE) in Itanagar.

With the backing of NCOE’s nutrition and injury management programs, her goal is to represent India on the international stage. Despite her momentum, the road to her 2026 success was shadowed by physical setbacks. While balancing her academics as a BA second-semester student at Dhemaji City College, Monikha spent the last three months battling a persistent right knee injury suffered during a training session. This injury turned her latest gold medal quest into a test of mental fortitude as much as physical strength.

News sports other-sports Monikha Sonowal's Tale Of Overcoming Pain And Why Clinching KITG Gold 'Is Just The Beginning'

Read More