From being written off to beating India’s best at KIUG 2025: the inspiring journey of Manipuri cyclist Khoirom Rejiya Devi
View Comments Jaipur: “This sport is not for you.” This was the frequent response Khoirom Rejiya Devi got from home and from some coaches when she first took up cycling back in 2019.The Manipur-born cyclist representing Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) at the Khelo India University Games Rajasthan 2025 was a late convert to cycling after trying her hand at Sepak Takraw as a junior but was overlooked for further selection.The 23-year-old silenced all those critics when she upset favourite Meenakshi Rohilla of Guru Nanak Dev University to clinch the women’s 3km Pursuit gold at the Sawai Man Singh Stadium Cycling Velodrome in Jaipur.“From 2019, on the track, even at home—I faced so much mental stress that now every race feels like a challenge. And that is why I never think about who is in front of me. I have […]