INDIA FIRST . RAIPUR . ANIL PUSADKAR
“When circumstances are tough, strong people move forward” – this famous saying perfectly reflects the determination and resilience of Debi Diyamari, the talented wrestler from Assam. Her hard work and perseverance paid off when she won the silver medal in the women’s 62 kg category at the Khelo India Tribal Games.
Debi Diyamari, 28, hails from Dineshpur village in Sisuapani, Golaghat district, Assam. She lost her parents at the age of seven and subsequently lived with her uncle and aunt. Facing financial difficulties, Debi had to take on small jobs to continue her sports training. Belonging to the Bodo tribe, she says, “This medal is the result of years of hard work. I began wrestling in 2022 at the Khelo India Centre near Kaziranga in Bokakhat, Golaghat district. To practice properly, I had to rent a room nearby, but I could not afford the rent of ₹1,000, so I worked a part-time job for a year.”
Balancing Work and Training:
Debi continued, “Initially, in 2022, I worked at the EZ Market store in Bokakhat for a monthly salary of ₹2,500. Then in 2023, I worked at Bon Villa Resort near Kaziranga for ₹7,000 per month, where I took care of and maintained the swimming pool. After a full day of work, I could only practice wrestling for two hours in the evening. All my efforts have now been rewarded with this silver medal, but I am not satisfied – I want to work harder and aim for gold next.”
Transition to Wrestling:
Before taking up wrestling, Debi was involved in powerlifting and arm wrestling. In 2022, she met Anustup Narah, the Assam team coach, who guided her in mastering wrestling techniques. Coach Anustup recalls, “During the Panja tournament in Bokakhat in 2022, I met Debi and immediately suggested she pursue wrestling. She agreed after considering it. I advised her to stay near the centre for proper training. She said she couldn’t afford the rent, so I coordinated with the Assistant Secretary of Wrestling in Golaghat to help her get a job and even arranged a bicycle for her. She then used the bicycle to commute and trained near the centre.”
Achievements
:
Debi officially began wrestling in 2022 at the Khelo India Centre in Kaziranga, Bokakhat, and qualified for the Senior Championship in Vishakhapatnam the same year. She went on to win the gold medal at the 2024 State Championship. Last year, Debi got married, and her husband works in private employment in Bangalore. She credits her in-laws and husband for supporting her journey, saying, “They always ensure I have everything I need, sending money from Bangalore to help me focus on training.”
Future Goals:
Debi Diyamari shares her future plans: “My next goal is to win medals at the senior level and eventually compete internationally. I am training day and night, and after returning from here, I will follow the coach’s guidance to plan my next steps.”
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