On November 28, 2025, Rajyashree Haldar and her mother, Rakhi Halder, competed in the East Zone ASMITA Khelo India Women’s Weightlifting League held in Kolkata. The duo claimed gold medals in their respective women’s categories. Rajyashree won the 58 kg event, and her mother, Rakhi, took home the 69 kg gold medal on the same day. The event started on November 26 and will continue till the 30th at the Khudiram Anushilan Kendra.
Rakhi is a seasoned weightlifter who has previously won a gold medal at the 2019 Commonwealth Championships. Meanwhile, Rajyashree recently participated at the Khelo India University Games (KIUG) 2025, where she narrowly missed out on the gold medal against Rima Bhoi by just 2 kg. She, however, brought home a silver medal.
Rajyashree and Rima are known for their on-court rivalry. Both of them finished in the first and second positions, respectively, in the 59 kg women’s category at the Khelo India Asmita Women National Zonal League 2024-25 held in Brahmapur, Odisha.
Following her silver medal win in Kolkata, Rajyashree expressed what the win meant to her and how it was a special one.
She shared, “This was my first Khelo India University Games. It feels good to get a silver. There is a reason for that; I have mostly finished fourth or fifth so far, so this silver is special.”
Previously at the All India Inter-University championship, Rajyashree won a bronze medal.
The youngster is currently a second-year Bachelor of Arts student at Adamas University. For the past six years, she has been weightlifting, carrying the legacy of her family.
Her father, C Naveen Kumar, is a powerlifter and her mother’s coach at their Kolkata home. Coming from a legacy of sports athletes, Rajyashree discloses the amount of pressure that she has to undergo before a performance.
She said, “There is mental pressure of performance. When people find my identity, they will count my mother’s achievements. I hope to live up to the expectations.”
The ongoing tournament is a part of the Khelo India initiative that is aimed at promoting women’s weightlifting and fostering grassroots talent from zones like Mizoram, Odisha, and Bihar.
Mizoram’s Annie Lalruatfeli Colney had won a gold medal in the 53 kg youth category. Meanwhile, Odisha’s Romali Pradhan claimed a silver in the 63 kg event, and Assam’s Luna Sonowal swept away multiple gold medals. Athletes from Bihar shined in the event, with several medals won.
Inputs sourced from [Sportstar], [The Logical Indian]
