With Extraordinary Determination, Jharkhand Wrestler Poonam Overcomes Career-Threatening Injury to End 9-Year Title Drought

Raipur, March 2026 : With extraordinary determination, Jharkhand wrestler Poonam overcame a career-ending injury and ended a 9-year title drought.

In a sport like wrestling, where fitness and strength are the biggest requirements, stepping onto the mat with an injured shoulder is a major risk in itself. But 19-year-old Jharkhand wrestler Poonam Oran turned this risk into a challenge and, despite the pain, kept winning match after match to clinch the gold medal at the first Khelo India Tribal Games 2026.

Even in the final, Poonam entered with a bandage on her left shoulder. The pain was clearly visible with every move, but she did not give up and fought till the end to win the bout in her favour. Poonam won the gold medal by defeating Telangana’s K. Geeta in the women’s 50 kg category final.

After winning the first gold medal of her career, Poonam told SAI Media, “How could I give up, sir? When I didn’t give up for nine years, how could I give up now? This injury is very old. Six years ago, my shoulder got dislocated. It healed in between, but I got injured again during training. Despite this, I made a comeback and now I have won gold here.” She added, “I have been struggling with injuries since the beginning of my career, but I never gave up. Winning a gold medal feels like a dream come true. Compared to the pain of not winning gold for nine years, this injury is nothing.”

For Poonam, a resident of Suiyabar village in Chatra district of Jharkhand, this victory is like a dream come true. When she started wrestling in 2017, a serious injury kept her away from the mat for about a year. After returning, she won bronze medals in the School Games Federation of India (SGFI) in 2018 and 2019, but then had to wait a long time for another medal.

Poonam says she was not fully fit even before entering this competition. “My family was stopping me, but my coach and support staff believed in me. Because of their support, I was able to compete and win gold. Winning a medal after six years is very special for me, and behind it is my strong willpower,” she said. She has been training while staying in a hostel in Ranchi for nearly a decade.

Belonging to the Oran community, this gold medal holds special significance for Poonam. She said, “I had to wait a long time for this. I have been battling injuries since the beginning of my career, but I never gave up. Winning a gold medal now feels like a dream come true.”

Along with wrestling, she is also maintaining a balance in her studies and is currently pursuing a BA in Political Science from Ranchi University. She is now focused on securing a place in the Jharkhand team for the Junior Nationals.

“My next goal is to qualify for the Junior National trials, and I want to continue this golden success,” Poonam said.