Biswanath: Assam’s rising para cycling talent Lisha Das has secured a place in India’s contingent for the 2026 Commonwealth Games, becoming one of the state’s promising athletes to compete at the prestigious international sporting event in Glasgow, Scotland. At just 16 years of age, she is set to be the youngest member of the Indian team and will participate in the Para Track Cycling competition.
A Class XI student of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Biswanath, Lisha hails from Tezpur and is the daughter of Nirmal Das and Rukmini Bhumij Das. Born on June 8, 2010, she has emerged as one of India’s most promising para cyclists through remarkable determination and consistent performances despite competing with the use of only one arm.
Lisha’s selection follows an impressive run at national and international competitions. Her achievements include a gold medal at the 2025 National Para Road Cycling Championship, two gold medals at the Lanna Cup, a bronze medal at the Korat Cup, and two silver and three bronze medals at the 2026 Asian Para Track Championships. Her performances over the past two years have established her as a strong contender on the international para cycling circuit.
To celebrate the milestone, Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Biswanath organised a felicitation programme and honoured the young athlete during a press conference. School authorities congratulated Lisha on her selection and conveyed their best wishes for her campaign at the Commonwealth Games.
International athlete Hridainanda Das, speaking at the event, described Lisha’s qualification as a historic achievement for the district. He noted that she is the first athlete from Biswanath to earn a place at the Commonwealth Games and expressed hope that she would return with a gold medal while extending his best wishes to all athletes representing Assam at the Games.
Lisha’s journey has been widely recognised as a testament to resilience, dedication and perseverance. Her success has inspired many young athletes by demonstrating that physical challenges need not limit sporting ambitions when matched with determination and hard work.
She will be among the athletes representing Assam at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, alongside Olympic boxer Lovlina Borgohain and lawn bowls players Nayan Moni Saikia and Putul Sonowal, adding to the state’s presence on the international sporting stage.
