Raipur — Overcoming financial struggles and limited resources, Jharkhand’s Babulal Hembrom scripted an inspiring journey to clinch silver in the men’s 60kg category at the Khelo India Tribal Games 2026.
The turning point came when former Army coach Gurvinder Singh advised the youngster from Keribanda village in Ramgarh district to focus entirely on weightlifting. However, the biggest hurdle was arranging funds to pursue the sport.
Undeterred, Hembrom began training with bamboo sticks and iron rods at construction sites. Later, he joined the coaching centre run by the Jharkhand State Sports Promotion Society, commuting nearly 60 km daily to train under his coach.
“It was a tough period for me when I took up the sport in 2018. Financially, we couldn’t afford the equipment and kit, so I trained with bamboo sticks and iron rods. Then I got coaching support from JSPS and my coach, and here I am,” said the 19-year-old.
Coming from a modest background, Hembrom shared that his mother works as a cook in a local school while his father does odd jobs to support the family. The youngest among five siblings, he believes his achievements will help improve their financial stability.
Hembrom has already made his mark at the national and international levels. In 2024, he won gold in the 49kg category at the Khelo India Youth Games in Chennai and went on to secure medals at the IWF World Youth Weightlifting Championships and the Asian Junior and Youth Weightlifting Championships.
Now training at national camps in Patiala, Hembrom is eyeing a spot in the Indian team for major competitions. He said the silver medal at the Tribal Games has boosted his confidence and reinforced his belief that he is on the right path.
His long-term goals include representing India at marquee events such as the Commonwealth Games, the Asian Games and the World Championships.
With inputs from IANS