- Pallavi’s daughter was just six months old when she decided to focus on weightlifting again.
- The journey back was not easy without the support of her husband, who works in the BSF.
When Pallavi Payeng’s daughter was just six months old, the Assamese weightlifter faced a tough decision: either give up her favorite sport or resume training while away from her daughter. Her husband, Sukhavan Thoumang, encouraged her to pursue her dreams, while her mother took care of the child. Pallavi made this sacrifice worthwhile, winning a silver medal in the women’s 69 kg category at the first Khelo India Tribal Games held here.
Pallavi, who belongs to the Mising tribe of Assam, began weightlifting in 2018 and made her mark by winning medals at state-level competitions. However, the COVID-19 lockdown halted her athletic career. During this time, she became a mother, but the desire to return to the weightlifting stage remained. However, the thought of returning to the sport after becoming a mother was as exciting as it was challenging.
“It’s not easy,” Pallavi told SAI Media. “Many women internationally have performed brilliantly after becoming mothers, but only a woman can understand what it takes to return to full fitness.” “I left my daughter when she was just six months old so I could resume training. It was an emotional decision, but I felt it was the right time,” she said. Now four years old, her daughter splits her time between Pallavi’s rented house in Sarupathar and her grandmother’s house in Borpathar, Golaghat district, about 20 kilometers away.
- This decision was not easy.
Spending long periods away from her daughter and sometimes questioning her decisions has been a part of Pallavi’s journey. But her family’s support has never let her feel alone. “My husband has always supported me, while my mother ensures that my daughter is taken care of when I travel for competitions,” she said. Pallavi’s husband, a former national-level boxing medalist, currently works as a driver with the Border Security Force (BSF) and is posted in Jammu.
Despite this, the road to a comeback wasn’t easy. After becoming a mother, Pallavi finished sixth at the 2023 State Championships in Golaghat. The following year, she faced disappointment in Dibrugarh when the competition stretched late into the night, and she couldn’t maintain her rhythm. But she didn’t give up. In 2025, her hard work began to pay off. She won a silver medal at the State Championships in Tezpur and a gold medal at the Asmita League that same year. This year, she further strengthened her comeback by winning another gold medal at the Asmita League.
This silver medal at the Khelo India Tribal Games in Raipur was special for her. She said, “This silver medal at the Khelo India Tribal Games is a significant achievement in my career. It gives me confidence that I belong at this level.”