Back from break & setbacks, Pallavi returns to lift silver

Raipur: Assam weightlifter Pallavi Payeng's silver at the Khelo India Tribal Games in Chhattisgarh marks a hard-fought comeback, as she battled motherhood challenges, a career break, and repeated setbacks to return to peak form with strong family support. Pallavi secured the medal in the women's 69 kg category.Pallavi, who hails from the Mising community, started her weightlifting career in 2018 and quickly made a mark in state-level competitions. Her progress was interrupted by the Covid-19 lockdown and subsequent maternity leave.The decision to return to the sport was difficult. Pallavi resumed training when her daughter was only six months old. "It is not easy. While many women have performed exceptionally at the international level after becoming mothers, only a woman understands the physical conditions one must navigate to return to peak fitness," Pallavi said.Currently, her four-year-old daughter stays between Pallavi's rented accommodation in Sarupathar and her grandmother's home in Borpathar in Golaghat district, located about 20 km apart.Family support played a central role in her comeback. Her husband, Sukhavan Thoumoung, a former national-level boxing medallist, encouraged her to pursue her goals. "This silver medal at the Khelo India Tribal Games is an important achievement for my career. It gives me the confidence that I belong at this level," Pallavi said.