Leaving Her Four-Year-Old at Home, Assam Weightlifter Pallavi Wins Medal at Khelo India Tribal Games

Pallavi’s daughter was only six months old when she decided to return to weightlifting.

Without the support of her husband, who works in the BSF, this comeback journey was far from easy.

Raipur, March 2026 : When Pallavi Paiyeng’s daughter was just six months old, the Assam weightlifter faced a difficult choice: either give up her beloved sport or restart training while being away from her child. At this critical time, her husband, Sukhawan Thoumang, encouraged her to pursue her dreams, while her mother took responsibility for caring for the baby. Turning this sacrifice into achievement, Pallavi won the silver medal in the women’s 69 kg category at the first Khelo India Tribal Games held in Raipur.

Belonging to a missing tribal community in Assam, Pallavi began weightlifting in 2018 and made her mark by winning medals at state-level competitions. However, the COVID-19 lockdown slowed down her sporting career. During this period, she became a mother, but her desire to return to the weightlifting platform never faded. While the idea of returning to the sport after childbirth was exciting, it was equally challenging.

Speaking to SAI Media, Pallavi said, “It is not easy. Many women have performed brilliantly at the international level after becoming mothers, but only a woman can understand what it takes to regain full fitness.” She added, “I left my daughter when she was just six months old to restart training. It was an emotional decision, but I felt it was the right time.” Today, her four-year-old daughter splits her time between Pallavi’s rented home in Sarupathar and her grandmother’s house in Borpathar, about 20 kilometers away.

The decision was not easy.

Spending long periods away from her daughter and questioning her own choices became part of Pallavi’s journey. Yet, the support of her family never let her feel alone. She said, “My husband has always stood by me, and my mother ensures that my daughter is fully cared for whenever I go for competitions.” Pallavi’s husband, a former national-level boxing medalist, currently serves as a driver in the Border Security Force (BSF) and is posted in Jammu.

Even with support, the road to comeback was tough. After becoming a mother, Pallavi finished sixth at the 2023 state championships in Golaghat. The following year in Dibrugarh, she faced disappointment when the competition ran late, disrupting her rhythm. But she did not give up. In 2025, her hard work began to pay off: she won a silver medal at the state championships in Tezpur and a gold medal at the Asmita League the same year. This year, she won another gold at the Asmita League, further strengthening her comeback.

The silver medal at the Khelo India Tribal Games in Raipur held special significance for her. She said, “This silver medal at the Khelo India Tribal Games is an important achievement in my career. It has given me the confidence that I am a player of this level.”