KITG 2026: Bethlyne Makri bags bronze months after switching to race-walking

JAGDALPUR: 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.

Support from her coaches and family motivated her to persevere. As the youngest and only daughter among three siblings, Bethlyne chose to accept the challenge and focused on mastering the technical aspects of the sport before heading to Jagdalpur for the inaugural Khelo India Tribal Games 2026.