Raipur, March 28 -- For years, Arunachal Pradesh weightlifter Anai Wangsu had come painfully close to winning a gold medal, only to fall short at the final hurdle. When the opportunity arrived again at the inaugural Khelo India Tribal Games (KITG) in Raipur, even her health seemed to stand in the way.
Just days before she was scheduled to travel for the competition, the 21-year-old had to be hospitalised after her chronic gastric condition flared up once again. Doctors had to put her on intravenous fluids to help her regain strength.
Anai has been battling the illness since 2019. The condition often strikes without warning, leaving her weak, dehydrated and extremely fatigued, a major concern in a sport like weightlifting where strength an...