Bikaner, Nov 26 (NationPress) Competing on behalf of Berhampur University, Rinki Nayak secured a silver medal at the Khelo India University Games Rajasthan 2025.

The event on Tuesday symbolized more than just a medal; it represented the end of a four-year journey filled with loss, sorrow, and relentless determination.

In her debut at the KIUG, the 23-year-old achieved a total lift of 149kg (63kg Snatch; 86kg Clean & Jerk) to earn silver in the women's 48kg category, placing second to Kajol Magadev Sargar from Shivaji University (158kg) and ahead of Rani Nayak from Chandigarh University (148kg), all held at the Indoor Hall of Maharaja Ganga Singh University in Bikaner.

Rinki's competitive path also includes a gold medal in the ASMITA league for female weightlifters. ASMITA (Achieving Sports Milestone by Inspiring Women Through Action) is part of the Khelo India initiative aimed at promoting women's sports in the country.

This achievement is far more significant than just her competition total. On July 24, 2020, her life took a tragic turn when she discovered her father, Niladri Nayak, had committed suicide after returning home from training.

The immense pressure from family responsibilities became unbearable for him, and he had always been Rinki's biggest supporter in her aspirations to excel in sports. He cheered for her from her early days in school athletics to her transition into weightlifting.

The next two years were the most challenging of her life. Rinki fell into a deep depression, struggled with her grief, and continued her training despite her mother's disapproval of her athletic pursuits. Nevertheless, she clung to her father’s faith in her and the small circle of friends, coaches, and supporters who encouraged her not to give up.

For Rinki, the silver medal at the KIUG Rajasthan follows her gold in the ASMITA Weightlifting league earlier this year. The tragedy of 2020 almost derailed her career for some time, but motivation from her friends and coaches helped her refocus on her passion.

Having been estranged from her family, with her mother blocking her calls, Rinki, the eldest of four siblings, has not returned home for the past two years and has devoted herself entirely to her sport. After participating in a few tournaments, she gradually regained her focus. She credits the support from the Odisha government for helping her career get back on track, as she no longer has to worry about her meals, accommodation, training, or nutritional needs. Rinki now trains at the Biju Patnaik Weightlifting Hall in Bhubaneswar.

“This was my first Khelo India University Games, and winning the silver medal here is truly special. While I was aiming for gold, this silver reminds me that I must work on my weaknesses. It hasn’t been an easy journey, and I am grateful for the government’s support over the years,” Rinki expressed emotionally to SAI Media.

Reflecting on her journey, Rinki, who hails from Berhampur, stated, “I began my sports career in athletics during school, but my teacher encouraged me to switch to weightlifting. My father supported my sports ambitions, though my mother was always concerned and disapproved of me becoming an athlete.”

“Things progressively worsened at home, especially since my dad worked in a private firm in Visakhapatnam, limiting direct family support. When he returned during the lockdown, conditions deteriorated, and ultimately, the pressure became too much for him to bear. I was training just 3km away from home at that time, and upon returning from a workout on July 24, I found him gone,” Rinki recalled, tears streaming down her face as she relived that tragic moment.

“For a time, I couldn’t compose myself. The memories haunted me, causing immense mental distress, and I fell into depression. It was challenging to return to normalcy, but my friends and coaches were there for me throughout that dark period,” she added.