Shillong Athlete Bethleen Makri Wins Race-Walk Bronze After Starting Just Months Ago

Raipur, April 2026 : A young athlete from Shillong, Bethleen Grace Makri, has scripted an inspiring story by winning a bronze medal in race-walking at the Khelo India Tribal Games 2026—just months after taking up the sport in January this year.

Makri’s journey into race-walking began unexpectedly on December 29 last year, when her coach at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) Training Centre in Shillong noticed her potential for the discipline. Interestingly, Makri herself had little to no knowledge about race-walking at the time, including its technical aspects.

Until recently, the Meghalaya athlete had been competing as a middle- and long-distance runner. However, at the start of 2026, she was advised to switch events—a decision that tested both her physical endurance and mental resilience.

Coming from the Khasi tribe, Makri found the transition extremely challenging. The initial weeks were particularly tough as she struggled to adapt to the unfamiliar techniques of race-walking while dealing with intense physical strain. Sleepless nights, body pain, and self-doubt became part of her routine during the early phase of training.

Despite these challenges, strong support from her coach and family helped her push through. As the youngest of three siblings and the only daughter, Makri embraced the challenge with determination and committed herself fully to mastering the sport.

Speaking about her journey, she said, “The first two weeks were really difficult, especially for my body. Race-walking techniques are completely different from running, so it took time to understand. I had sleepless nights and moments of anxiety, and I even began to doubt my decision.”

Her perseverance paid off on Wednesday when she clocked 1:05:18 in the women’s race-walking event to secure the bronze medal. She finished behind Jharkhand’s Neha Jaalxo (1:04:02) and Odisha’s Elish Ekka (1:04:59).

Makri credited her success to her support system. “My coach and family stood by me and kept motivating me. I decided to give it a try, and today I am here. There is still room for improvement, but this is exactly the kind of start I needed,” she said.

Currently a second-year BA student at Shillong College, Makri takes pride in being Meghalaya’s only race-walker to win a medal at the national level. She hopes her achievement will inspire more युवाओं—young athletes—from her state to take up the sport professionally.

“This medal reflects my hard work, belief, and the support of my coach and family. It has boosted my confidence to move forward in this sport,” she added with a smile.