Battling illness, Arunachal’s Anai Wangsu fulfils brother’s dream with KITG 2026 gold 

Raipur — Overcoming health setbacks and years of near misses, Arunachal Pradesh weightlifter Anai Wangsu clinched a memorable gold medal at the Khelo India Tribal Games 2026, turning adversity into triumph.

Just days before travelling to Raipur, the 21-year-old had to be hospitalised after her chronic gastric condition flared up. She was put on intravenous fluids to regain strength. However, soon after being discharged, she returned to training and went on to win the women’s 58kg gold medal.

Anai has been battling recurring gastric issues since 2019, with sudden bouts causing weakness, dehydration and fatigue — a major challenge in a demanding sport like weightlifting. Despite the setbacks, she remained determined to end her run of silver and bronze finishes.

“I had won bronze and silver medals in the past, and everyone in my family kept asking me when I would win a gold medal. Now everyone is happy that I have finally achieved that goal,” she said after the victory.

Earlier, she had secured bronze medals at youth nationals and silver medals at various Khelo India events, including the Khelo India University Games 2025 in Rajasthan. At last year’s All India University Nationals, she narrowly missed gold when time ran out before her final lift.

Her journey into weightlifting was inspired by her elder brother Sinchad Bansu, a former national-level athlete now serving with the Arunachal Pradesh Police. He took her to trials at a Sports Authority of India centre in Itanagar, hoping she would fulfil his unfinished ambitions.

Initially interested in boxing — influenced by the film Mary Kom — Anai eventually chose weightlifting on her brother’s advice. She later joined the National Centre of Excellence in Lucknow for advanced training.

However, the COVID-19 pandemic forced her to return home, where limited access to proper nutrition and facilities worsened her health issues. Despite continuing struggles, she said the gold medal has renewed her confidence and reaffirmed that her hard work is paying off.

With inputs from IANS