- Competes with recurring shoulder injury to win title
- First national gold after years of struggle and near misses
- Sets sights on Junior Nationals after landmark victory
Ambikapur (Chhattisgarh)|March, 31: Jharkhand wrestler Poonam Oraon overcame a long-standing shoulder injury to clinch the gold medal in the women’s 50kg category at the Khelo India Tribal Games 2026, ending a nine-year wait for a top podium finish at the national level.
The 19-year-old wrestler, who competed with her left shoulder heavily strapped, defeated Telangana’s K Geetha in the final, displaying grit and composure despite visible discomfort throughout the bout. Her victory marked a significant milestone in a career that has been repeatedly disrupted by injury.
Hailing from Suiyabar village in Jharkhand’s Chatra district, Poonam’s journey reflects the challenges faced by athletes from rural and tribal backgrounds.
Limited access to advanced training facilities and medical support often adds to the difficulties, making sustained progress in competitive sports more demanding.
Currently based in Ranchi, she is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science while continuing her training. Balancing academics and sport, she has remained focused on improving her performance and achieving higher goals.
Speaking to Kashmir Horizon, Poonam said the decision to compete was not easy, given her condition.
“I have been dealing with this shoulder injury for many years. It had improved for some time, but the pain keeps returning. Before the Games, it started troubling me again, but I did not want to miss this opportunity,” she said.
She said winning the gold medal after years of setbacks made the struggle worthwhile.
“I have waited for this moment for a long time. The pain of injury is nothing compared to the disappointment of not winning gold for so many years,” she added.
Poonam’s injury dates back to 2017, when she dislocated her shoulder soon after taking up wrestling. The setback forced her to stay away from the sport for over a year, affecting her early development. Although she returned to competition, the injury continued to resurface, limiting her training and performance at key events.
She has secured bronze medals at the School Games Federation of India (SGFI) national meets in 2018 and 2019, but a gold medal continued to elude her.
Ahead of the Tribal Games, her participation was uncertain after the injury flared up again. Family members had advised her to skip the competition to avoid further damage, but Poonam chose to go ahead, supported by her coach and training staff.
“I was not fully fit, but my coach and support staff encouraged me to compete. Their support gave me confidence. I focused on giving my best in every bout,” she said.
During the competition, Poonam adopted a cautious yet effective approach, managing her movements to avoid placing excessive strain on her injured shoulder. In the final, she maintained control and executed key moves at crucial moments to secure victory.
Meanwhile officials associated with the event said her performance stood out due to the circumstances under which it was achieved. Competing in a physically demanding sport like wrestling while carrying an injury requires not only physical endurance but also strong mental resolve, they noted.
Poonam has set her sights on qualifying for the Junior Nationals. She said the victory has boosted her confidence and motivated her to aim for consistent performances in upcoming competitions.
“This medal is very important for me. It has given me confidence to perform better in future events. My next goal is to qualify for the Junior Nationals and continue improving,” she said.
