Raipur (thestates.news) | On December 29, 2025, Bethlyne Grace Makri’s coaches at the SAI Sports Training Centre (STC), Shillong, suddenly discovered a spark in the teenager as a race-walker. Ironically, Bethlyne herself knew almost nothing about the event, let alone its technical demands.
Until last year, the young athlete from Meghalaya had been competing as a middle and long-distance runner. But at the start of 2026, she was asked to switch disciplines, testing both her physical and mental strength.
Hailing from the Khasi tribe, Bethlyne found the transition extremely demanding. The first few weeks were particularly challenging as she battled severe lower-body pain while trying to adapt to the unfamiliar technique of race walking. Sleepless nights followed, and self-doubt began to creep in.
Yet support from her coaches and family helped her push through. The youngest and only daughter among three siblings, Bethlyne decided to embrace the challenge and devoted herself to learning the technical aspects of the sport before travelling to Jagdalpur for the inaugural Khelo India Tribal Games 2026.
“The first two weeks were really tough, particularly on the lower body. The technicalities of race walk are entirely different from middle or long-distance running, so it took time for me to understand that. Sleepless nights followed, nervous moments and ultimately I started doubting myself about whether the decision was right,” she recalled to SAI Media.
