“This sport is not for you.” It was a line Khoirom Rejiya Devi heard far too often, at home and even from some coaches, when she first began cycling in 2019.

The Manipur-born rider, now representing Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) at the Khelo India University Games Rajasthan 2025, turned to cycling relatively late after spending her junior years playing Sepak Takraw. Despite her commitment, she was overlooked in that sport, pushing her to explore a new path.

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In Jaipur, the 23-year-old delivered the perfect response to all her early detractors. Rejiya stunned favourite Meenakshi Rohilla of Guru Nanak Dev University to win the women’s 3km Pursuit gold at the Sawai Man Singh Stadium Cycling Velodrome.

“From 2019, on the track, even at home, I faced so much

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