Raipur|April, 7: Behind every medal at the Khelo India Tribal Games lies a story of struggle, sacrifice, and silent resilience, as athletes from remote villages battle poverty, lack of facilities, and social barriers to chase their dreams on the national stage.
Rohan M. Doddamani from the Siddi community of Karnataka, who clinched a gold medal, carries a story far heavier than his weight on the mat.
Born into deep poverty, life was never easy. His mother works tirelessly as a cook in a government school, while the absence of his father, who passed away six years ago, left a void both emotional and financial.
“I didn’t have access to proper training facilities, diet, or support systems that many athletes rely on. Yet, he refused to let hardship define his destiny. Wrestling was not just a sport for him, it became his escape, his hope, and his way forward,” he said.
“We have local wrestling matches in our community, and that is where I started. There were no proper facilities, no guidance, but I kept going,” he said.
“Seeing others from my community rise gave me courage. Today, I train every day with one dream to represent India on the international stage,” Rohan added.
Hamam Hussain, 28 year old wrestling athlete from Jammu and Kashmir’s RS Pora area says he had never imagined that one day, he would win a gold medal at the Khelo India Tribal Games 2026.
“For years, my life was not just about wrestling. It was about survival. In most of tribal families, playing games is not everybody cup of tea due to lot of chorus of at home,” he said.
Hamam says his father passed away five years ago, everything changed. His elder brother had to leave wrestling and start delivering milk to run the family.
“I used to go with him, door to door, because we had no other option. My brother always told me to continue. He took me to local dangals and motivated me. Once I stepped into the akhada, I fell in love with the sport,” he said.
Training, however, was never easy. “I travel almost 20 kilometres to train on mud, and whenever I get a chance, I go 40 kilometres to Jammu to practice on the mat. We do not have proper facilities in our village. There is no personal coach. We learn from senior wrestlers,” he said.
Hamam said he trained for 14 years without winning a major gold medal. There were times I felt tired, but I never stopped. I knew one day my hard work would pay off,” he said.
“This year that moment has finally come I won gold in the 79kg freestyle category. This medal means everything to me. It is not just a medal, it is my struggle, my family’s sacrifice, and my brother’s dream too,” Hamam added.
“If we get better facilities and support, many more players from tribal villages or remote areas can win medals for the country,” he added.
Another athelete from Suraj Mashi’s who bagged silver medal in the men’s 5000m at the Khelo India Tribal Games is from Mokhada Taluka of Maharashtra’s Palghar district. His father is daily wage labourer and the only boy among four sisters.
When he was in School, his mother suffered a serious fall that left her unable to walk. As if that wasn’t enough, one of his sisters passed away last year, leaving behind grief and a heavier burden on Suraj’s
Unable to afford a coach, Suraj trained on his own, carefully observing senior athletes at the Nashik track and copying their drills.
“The coaching fee is Rs 4000 per month. I can’t afford that. I stay on rent in Nashik for my studies, and I manage everything from the money I earn by running in small races. With no formal training structure, relied on determination, self-learning, and occasional advice from seniors and tribal department coaches,” he said.
Suraj says he was getting training in second-hand shoes and paying just Rs 300 a month to use basic facilities.
“For parcipating in Khelo India, I had no choice but to borrow a pair from a fellow runner. I make a living by participating in local competitions and cross-country races. Earned around Rs 3000 to Rs 5000 a month, and from that, I pay my rent, studies, training, and send whatever I can home,” he said.
Despite the hardships, Suraj refuses to give up. At just 18, he has already faced more struggles than most, including missing out on a police job after failing one event. But his spirit remains unbroken.
“Running is the only thing that has brought me this far. I believe this medal will change something in my life. Race is not just about winning, it is about survival, responsibility, and the hope of a better future for himself and his family,” he said.
Rajni Kerketta, a Semester-I student at Ranchi University and a hockey player from Jharkhand says during her early days, she faced harsh criticism from her own village.
“When I started hockey, I was criticised for wearing sports clothes. Elders would taunt me. But time, and her perseverance, changed everything. Now they are silent… and even happy about what I have achieved,” she said.
Rajni is youngest in her family, she lost her mother at a young age. “Struggle is most in tribal families. My mother would have always supported me, she added.
Being a tribal is not easy with less facilities and infrastructure, many times, she had to wear old clothes and old shoes.
Inspired by President DroupadiMurmu, Rajni dreams of representing India on the international stage. “I hope my dream comes true one day,” she said.
“There is no scope at the village level. We have to travel to Ranchi for training. The journey is not just physical but financial. Basic equipment, coaching, and travel expenses often become insurmountable hurdles,” Rajni said.
Eventually, Saroj found some relief after moving to a hostel where she now receives government support but the struggle to reach that stage was long and exhausting.
Another athlete, Manila Bage from Simdega district shares a similar story of perseverance. Playing hockey since 2018, she has relied heavily on her family’s limited means.
“Training itself is a challenge. Like many others, I have to travel long distances from her village to Ranchi for proper coaching. “It is very difficult, but I struggled a lot to come into this field,” she says. Despite the odds, her family continues to motivate her, hoping she will either represent India or secure a government job through sports.
Just days before her event at the Khelo India Tribal Games in Raipur Chhattisgarh, Agnes fell ill.
“At the same time, she was on her menstrual cycle something many athletes hesitate to talk about, but which brings real physical challenges. Weakness, fatigue, and pain are common.
She says she was feeling very weak. During her last training session, I couldn’t lift properly. When she stepped onto the platform on the third day of her periods, something changed.
“The bar felt light. Almost in disbelief. I don’t know how, but I just gave my best. That effort earned me my dream, a moment that I will remember throughout my life,” she said.
Agnes’s says her dream now extends beyond medals. She wants to become a coach, to guide others who face the same hardships she did.
“I want to come back here as a coach with my students,” she says adding the journey is far from over. But one thing is certain, no matter how heavy the weight, she has already proven she can lift it.”
In a small gym far from elite training centres, with limited resources and even fewer comforts, Agnes Fernandez was quietly building a dream, one lift at a time.
There were no state-of-the-art facilities, no steady supply of supplements, and often, not even enough money to support her training. Yet, against all odds, she stood on the podium at the Khelo India Tribal Games, winning a bronze medal in weightlifting.
Coming from middle class family in Goa, she said her journey is not just about sport, it is about resilience. I began weightlifting in 2020, not out of passion, but by following my sister. At the time, I wasn’t even deeply interested.”
Agnes said during the 2023 National Games in Goa, her mind changed. “That was when I really felt I wanted to continue. Despite financial hardships and struggles, I did not look back.”
“We are a tribal family and my father passed away when I was in the fourth standard, that left my mother to raise five children. Today, I mainly depend on my siblings for financial support,” she said.
Agnes says most of times, she did not have money to buy supplements. Others take multivitamins, fish oil, omega-3… a handful of pills. I cannot afford that. Even protein, I buy only when I have money,” she said.
Agnes says for a weightlifter, nutrition is not optional, it is essential. Recovery, strength, endurance all depend on it. I had to make do with the bare minimum, often skipping what others consider basic, she said.
About other challenges, she says that equipment and proper training infrastructure are major challenges, there are no dedicated weightlifting training centres, mostly I rely on local gyms with limited facilities.
“Despite these obstacles, I trained relentlessly, balancing studies in physical education with hours in the gym.
“I leave at 6 in the morning and spend half my day training. Even during difficult days, I try to stay connected to training. Gaps can take you far from your goals,” she added.
