By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, April 1: On December 29, 2025, Bethlyne Grace Makri’s coaches at the SAI Sports Training Centre (STC), Shillong, suddenly discovered a spark in the teenager as a race-walker. Ironically, Bethlyne herself knew almost nothing about the event, let alone its technical demands.
Until last year, the young athlete from Meghalaya had been competing as a middle and long-distance runner. But at the start of 2026, she was asked to switch disciplines, testing both her physical and mental strength.
Hailing from the Khasi tribe, Bethlyne found the transition extremely demanding. The first few weeks were particularly challenging as she battled severe lower-body pain while trying to adapt to the unfamiliar technique of race walking. Sleepless nights followed, and self-doubt began to creep in.
Yet support from her coaches and family helped her push through. The youngest and only daughter among three siblings, Bethlyne decided to embrace the challenge and devoted herself to learning the technical aspects of the sport before travelling to Jagdalpur for the inaugural Khelo India Tribal Games 2026.
“The first two weeks were really tough, particularly on the lower body. The technicalities of race walk are entirely different from middle or long-distance running, so it took time for me to understand that. Sleepless nights followed, nervous moments and ultimately I started doubting myself about whether the decision was right,” she recalled to SAI Media.
But on Wednesday, those struggles were rewarded handsomely. Bethlyne clocked 1:05:18 to win the bronze medal in the women’s race walk event, finishing behind Jharkhand’s Neha Xalxo (1:04:02) and Odisha’s Alish Ekka (1:04:59).
Moments after securing the medal, she credited the unwavering support of her coaches and family.
“But my coaches and my family backed me fully, and kept motivating me to continue with it. I also thought of giving it a shot, and here I am today. There is room for improvement, but it was just the kind of start I needed,” she said.
“The bronze medal at the Khelo India Tribal Games is a testament to the hard work, belief and backing of my coaches and my family, and it comes as a confidence booster for me to continue in the event,” the teenager added.
A second-year BA student at Shillong College, Bethlyne takes particular pride in becoming the only race walker from Meghalaya to win a medal at the national level.
“There are no race walkers from Meghalaya, and I believe my Khelo India medal will encourage youngsters to think about taking up the sport professionally. I have begun liking it too,” she said with a smile.
