Raipur, March 28 (NationPress) Just days prior to her departure to Raipur for the inaugural Khelo India Tribal Games (KITG) 2026, Arunachal Pradesh weightlifter Anai Wangsu faced a setback when her chronic gastric condition flared up, leading to her hospitalization. After receiving intravenous fluids to regain her strength, she emerged victorious with a gold medal in Chhattisgarh just days later.

The 21-year-old has been grappling with chronic gastric issues since 2019, which can strike unexpectedly, causing weakness, dehydration, and severe fatigue—crucial obstacles in the demanding sport of weightlifting.

Despite her ongoing struggles, Anai returned to training the very next day after being discharged, determined to rewrite her story of near misses.

“In the past, I secured bronze and silver medals, and my family often asked when I would finally claim a gold. Now, they are thrilled that I’ve reached that milestone,” Anai shared with SAI Media after clinching the women’s 58kg gold in Raipur.

Previously, Anai had achieved two bronze medals at youth nationals and silver medals at various Khelo India Games, including the Khelo India University Games in Rajasthan in 2025. However, the elusive gold medal remained just beyond her grasp.

At last year's All India University nationals, she narrowly missed gold by a single lift as the one-minute time limit expired—a moment that still haunts her. “I cried extensively that day. It felt as if all my hard work had gone to waste,” she recounted.

Hailing from the Wangcho tribe, Anai’s journey in weightlifting was inspired by her older brother, Sinchad Bansu, a former national-level weightlifter now serving in the Arunachal Pradesh Police.

Sinchad encouraged Anai to try her hand at weightlifting at a Sports Authority of India (SAI) center in Itanagar, hoping she would achieve what he could not. Initially indifferent, Anai eventually embraced the sport, making it her ambition.

“The weightlifting and boxing facilities were housed in the same hall at the SAI Center. At that time, the Mary Kom film had just been released, and I aspired to be a boxer. However, my brother persuaded me to concentrate on weightlifting,” Anai explained, soon securing a spot at NCOE, Lucknow, for advanced training.

Unfortunately, the COVID pandemic forced her to return to Arunachal Pradesh, where inadequate nutrition and resources exacerbated her gastric issues over time.

“I put in a tremendous amount of effort, but there are times when my health suddenly declines. I struggle to comprehend why my body fails me,” Anai remarked, adding that winning the gold medal has instilled a sense of confidence that her hard work is indeed paying off.