Bhubaneswar: After 13 days of weightlifting action the IWLF. Youth, Junior and Senior National Weightlifting Championships2021-22 concluded here in Bhubaneswar with Railway Sports Promotion Board emerging champions in both Senior Men and Women Category.
Chief Guest at the closing ceremony was Sports Minister Tusharkanti Behera. Other dignitaries included Chairman Hockey Promotion Council, Dilip Tirkey, President, Indian Weightlifting Federation, Sahdev Yadav, Director Sports, KIIT University, Gaganendu Dash, Jt. Secretary, Sports and Youth Services Department, Odisha, Shailendra Jena and Secretary, OWA, Narayan Sahu.
Addressing the ceremony, Behera said, “It has been an honour and delight for us to have hosted this Weightlifting Championship across age categories here in Bhubaneswar. Officials of IWLF, Odisha Weightlifting Association and DSYS along with support from KIIT University have ensured the smooth conduct of this event and we look forward to working closely with the Federation to promote the sport and even hosting an international championship here in Odisha.”
“These 13 days have shown the determination, perseverance and grit of the lifters who have come from across 30 states and UTs. Several National records were made here too. A hearty congratulation to the winners and record holders,” he added.
Sports Minister, felicitated, Naib Subedar, Arjun Sahu, with a memento and cash award during the closing ceremony of Championships. Arjun, an inmate of DSYS sports hostel and weightlifter, had won the Gold medal in the 12th World Body Building & Best Physique Championship held at Tashkent in October 2021.
Yadav, expressed his satisfaction on the overall conduct of the event and the support extended by Odisha State Government. He said, “I am pleased to announce that first time in the history of Indian Weightlifting Federation, such a mega event has been conducted in form of Youth (Boys & Girls), Junior (Men & Women) and Senior (Men & Women) National Weightlifting Championships-2021-22 I am extremely happy with the conduct of the event at this scale and thankful to Odisha State Government for hosting it and KIIT University for extending support.”
Close to 1000 participants were assembled at Bhubaneswar at the Biju Patnaik Indoor Stadium, KIIT University, over the 13 days long competition. The event encompassed prowess of Youth and Junior weightlifters who have broken as many as 119 new national records during the Event whereas Senior athletes also shook the record books with 10 new national records.
Such a large number of new national records has been a heartening sign for the sport of weightlifting where athletes below 20 years have outclassed the Seniors as far as records are concerned. The conduct of the National Championships has been the most successful and at par with International competition. Next target of Indian Weightlifting Federation is to win laurels for the country at 2022 Commonwealth Games and Asian Games to be held in later part of the year, he added.
