Bhubaneswar, November 26 (IANS). Rinki Nayak of Baharampur University, Odisha won the silver medal in the ‘Khelo India University Games (KIUG) 2025’. In this competition, Kajol Magdev Sargar of Shivaji University won the gold medal by lifting 158 kg, while Rani Nayak of Chandigarh University won the bronze medal by lifting 148 kg. Before Rinki won silver in KIUG, Rinki won gold in Asmita Weightlifting League. This feat was more than the total weight lifted by Rinki Nayak in the competition. There was a time when Rinki was in depression after losing her father, but she overcame it and fulfilled her father’s dream because even though her mother did not support Rinki to become a weightlifter, her father was the only member of the family who allowed her to continue this sport. There was family pressure on Rinki to give up weightlifting, but her dream was to make a name for herself in this sport. When Rinki started weightlifting after athletics, she gained a lot of courage. Despite his mother’s strict prohibition, he continued his education. However, his father, friends and coach gave him courage in the meantime. A resident of Baharampur, Rinki took up athletics herself. After this, the coach asked him to start weightlifting. Even though the mother was upset by this, who never allowed her to become a player, the father wanted the daughter to realize her dream. Rinki’s father worked in a private company in Visakhapatnam. The financial condition of the house was not good. When the father returned home after losing his job during the lockdown, the family was in a financial crisis. Rinki used to train about 3 kilometers from home. On July 24, 2020, when she returned from training, she noticed that her father was gone. Rinki was drowned in grief after losing her father. She went into depression. It was hard for him to become normal, but friends and coaches stood by him. Finally, Rinki Nayak’s hard work paid off. He proved himself by winning a medal in the Khelo India University Games 2025. Now Rinki’s dream is to make India proud on the world stage. –IANS RSG/ABM Share this story Tags