Shillong college

Khelo India Tribal Games: On December 29, 2025, Bethlyne Grace Makri’s coaches at the SAI Sports Training Centre (STC) in Shillong suddenly saw a spark in her as a race-walker. Ironically, Bethlyne herself knew very little about the event, including its technical requirements.

Until last year, the young athlete from Meghalaya competed as a middle- and long-distance runner. However, at the beginning of 2026, she was instructed to change disciplines, challenging her physical and mental resilience.

Bethlyne, from the Khasi tribe, faced a tough transition. The initial weeks were especially difficult as she experienced intense lower-body pain and struggled to learn the unfamiliar race walking technique. She also had many sleepless nights, and her confidence started to waver.