India, March 30 -- On the verge of quitting weightlifting after losing both his parents before he was 16, Mizoram's Isak Malsawmtluanga overcame a back injury to clinch the men's 60kg gold medal at the Khelo India Tribal Games (KITG) here. Isak came up with a strong showing in the clean and jerk, after finishing the snatch section in second place, to clinch the gold medal with a total of 235 kg and was immediately embraced by his uncle, who has been the guiding force behind the teenager.

The personal tragedy had left the 18-year-old devastated but the support from his childhood coach and his uncle and aunt salvaged his sporting career.

Isak's father, Heming Malsawmtluanga, had died in a bike accident in 2018, the same year he began trai...