Northeast Desk, 24th May: In a proud moment for India, young Indian weightlifters have clinched four medals at the 2024 IWF World Youth Weightlifting Championship held in Lima, Peru. Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu shared the exhilarating news on the microblogging site X, congratulating the athletes for their remarkable achievements.
Preetismita Bhoi from Odisha emerged as a standout performer, winning gold in the Women’s 40kg Clean & Jerk and setting a new World Record with a 76 kg lift. “I am honoured and thrilled to have set a new world record. This is a dream come true and I couldn’t have done it without the support of my coaches, family, and the Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWLF),” said Bhoi. She hopes her achievement will inspire others to pursue their dreams with determination and hard work.
Jyoshna Sabar, another competitor in the 40kg category, excelled by winning a silver medal with a total lift of 69 kgs. Turkey’s Fatma Sena Kolcak took third place with a lift of 65 kgs. IWLF president Sahdev Yadav praised Preetismita as a true role model for aspiring weightlifters.
India’s success continued with Babulal Hembrom Sabar from Jharkhand, who secured a bronze medal in the Men’s 49kg event, lifting a total of 193 kg (86 kg in Snatch and 107 kg in Clean & Jerk).
Adding to the medal tally, Payal won a silver medal in the Women’s 45kg category and clinched two bronze medals in the Snatch and Clean & Jerk events.
Chief Minister Khandu expressed his pride and extended his congratulations: “Congratulations to all winners & best wishes.”
Ravi Kumar, General Secretary of the Odisha Weightlifting Association, highlighted Odisha’s dominance in the U14 category over the past two years. He attributed the success to the dedicated mentorship of coaches like Gopal Das and Ravi Kumar. “Getting selected to represent the country in the Youth Championships is an achievement in itself,” Kumar noted.
The athletes and their coaches are already focusing on future competitions. “We had targeted the World Championships this year, in preparation for the Youth Olympics and Commonwealth Games,” said Gopal Das, Preetismita’s coach. He emphasized the dedication and sacrifice required to break the world record.
Ravi Kumar also acknowledged the crucial support from Odisha’s Sports and Youth Services department. “A special thanks must be conveyed to Odisha Sports and Youth Services department for their involvement in providing us all the support we need and for considering weightlifting as an avenue for a future Olympic medal,” he remarked.
The impressive performance of these young athletes has not only brought glory to India but also highlighted the potential for future successes on the global stage.