Monikha Sonowal Shines at Khelo India Tribal Games 2026 with Gold Medal Win
A Daughter's Triumph
Monikha Sonowal humorously wondered if her father was busy at work as she attempted to reach him by phone. Just moments before, she had secured a gold medal in the women's 48kg weightlifting event at the inaugural Khelo India Tribal Games 2026 in Raipur. Monikha was eager to share her victory with her father, Padmadhar Sonowal, a mason who dedicates long hours at construction sites to support their family of four. He has been her unwavering supporter throughout her athletic journey.
Humble Beginnings
As the elder sibling, Monikha comes from Batghoria Penbeni Chowk, a small and often overlooked area in Assam's Dhemaji district, located about 425 kilometers from Guwahati along the north bank of the Brahmaputra River. Life in this village is typically slow-paced, with many families focused on daily responsibilities and survival, as noted in a press release from the Khelo India Tribal Games 2026.
Inspired by an Olympian
For Monikha, the clanging of weights in a gym became the backdrop to a larger dream. Despite facing resource constraints, her interest in weightlifting grew into a fervent passion, largely influenced by the achievements of Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Mirabai Chanu from nearby Manipur. On Thursday, her dream culminated in a moment of national pride as she overcame a knee injury to win the first weightlifting gold medal of the Games, a testament to her dedication over the past few years.
Key Milestone: SAI NCOE Itanagar
A significant milestone in Monikha's journey occurred two years ago when she enrolled at the Sports Authority of India's National Centre of Excellence (NCOE) in Itanagar. "The NCOE Itanagar provided me with everything an athlete from a small village could only dream of—comprehensive training, nutrition, guidance, and injury management. Without that support, achieving this level would have been incredibly challenging," Monikha, who is part of the Kachari Tribe, expressed.
Consistent Growth
Since joining the NCOE, Monikha's progress has been remarkable. She clinched gold at the School Nationals in 2023, followed by a silver medal at the Khelo India ASMITA League in Sambalpur, Odisha, in 2024. In 2025, she earned a bronze medal at the State Championships in Tezpur and placed eighth at the Inter-University Championships in Chandigarh.
Battling Challenges for Success
However, her path to this latest achievement was fraught with difficulties. For the past three months, Monikha, a second-semester BA student at Dhemaji City College, had been dealing with a right knee injury sustained during training. Her coaches recommended that she withdraw from the Khelo India Tribal Games to avoid worsening the injury. Nevertheless, Monikha felt compelled to compete despite the pain.
"My coaches were concerned about my knee and suggested I rest," she recalled. "But opportunities like the Khelo India Tribal Games are rare. I didn't want to miss out on such a significant event."
"I aspire to keep improving and represent India one day. This gold is just the beginning," Monikha concluded.