Rajgir: Maharashtra’s weightlifter Sairaj Pardeshi clinched the gold medal in the 81 kg category at the ongoing Khelo India Youth Games Weightlifting at the Rajgir Sports Complex on Monday, breaking three youth national records previously set by himself. Sairaj lifted a total of 312 kg (140 kg in snatch + 172 kg in clean and jerk). His earlier records, set at the Asian Championship in Doha, Qatar in December 2024, were 139 kg (snatch), 171 kg (clean and jerk), and 311 kg (total).
M. Tarun of Andhra Pradesh secured the silver with a total lift of 287 kg, while Ayush Rana of Uttar Pradesh claimed the bronze with 264 kg.
Training under coach Alkesh Barua at the Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports (NIS) in Patiala since 2024, Sairaj dominated his category. He successfully defended the gold medal he won last year in the same weight category in Chennai.
Previously, at the 2023 Khelo India Youth Games in Indore, Sairaj won a bronze in the 73 kg category. He was inducted into the National Centre of Excellence (NCOE) at Aurangabad in 2021, where he trained under Coach D.D. Sharma.
Sairaj Pardeshi said, “Initially, my goal was not to break records. I was focusing on each lift one by one, but as the competition progressed, I decided to give it my all. I want to thank my family, coaches, and the government. My dream is to win India’s first Olympic medal in men’s weightlifting. Karnam Malleswari and Mirabai Chanu have done it for the women – now it’s time for Indian men to make history, and I want to be the one to do it.”
With the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) planning changes in weight categories next month, Sairaj Pardeshi now aims to move to a higher category. The 17-year-old said, “I want to move to the 88 kg category, as IWF may introduce changes. With increased body weight, I can improve my lifts. Being part of NCOE gives me access to world-class coaching, training facilities, and recovery support – all crucial for a weightlifter. Also, all expenses for national and international competitions are covered. I’m grateful to the Sports Ministry and SAI.”
Other Notable Results
Tayir Ronik from Arunachal Pradesh lifted 154 kg in clean and jerk in the 73 kg category, winning the first-ever gold medal for his state at the Khelo India Games. His total lift was 267 kg, just one kg more than Hemanta Doimary of Assam. Himanshu Kushwaha from Madhya Pradesh won bronze with a total of 255 kg.
Tayir said, “This is my first Khelo India medal, and I’m extremely happy. I didn’t win a medal in the last three national championships, which was disappointing. Since last October’s nationals, I haven’t gone back to my village. I promised myself I wouldn’t return without a medal.”
In the girls’ 64 kg youth category, Gujjala Varshita from Andhra Pradesh won the gold by lifting a total of 174 kg, two kg more than Odisha’s Tiki Mohini Malik. Varshita hails from Srikakulam, the hometown of Olympic medallist Karnam Malleswari, and aspires to represent India at the Commonwealth and Asian Games.
Varshita said, “I’m very happy to win gold here. My next goal is to perform well at the Nationals and qualify for the Commonwealth and Asian Games trials. Karnam Ma’am is my role model, and I want to make the country proud like her.”
Meanwhile, Tiki, from Malukutupuli village in Odisha’s Ganjam district, has been training at the High Performance Centre in Bhubaneswar since 2021. The daughter of paddy farmer Maguni Malik, she trains under Coach K. Venkat Lakshmi. Her next targets are the Odisha State Championship and the National Championship.
In the day’s opening competition, Tanuja Subhash Pol from Maharashtra won gold in the girls’ 59 kg category, lifting a total of 171 kg (71 kg snatch + 100 kg clean and jerk). Tharangini Karangi of Andhra Pradesh took silver with 170 kg, and Bhavna Gogoi of Assam earned bronze with 167 kg. Tanuja hails from Karad in Maharashtra’s Satara district and trains under Coach Samrat Pawar. Bhavna trains at the Karnam Malleswari Weightlifting Academy in Bilaspur, Haryana, and dreams of representing India.
Results:
Girls’ 59 kg (Youth):
Gold: Tanuja Subhash Pol (Maharashtra) – 171 kg
Silver: Tharangini Karangi (Andhra Pradesh) – 170 kg
Bronze: Bhavna Gogoi (Assam) – 167 kg
Boys’ 73 kg (Youth):
Gold: Tayir Ronik (Arunachal Pradesh) – 267 kg
Silver: Hemanta Doimary (Assam) – 266 kg
Bronze: Himanshu Kushwaha (Madhya Pradesh) – 255 kg
Girls’ 64 kg (Youth):
Gold: Gujjala Varshita (Andhra Pradesh) – 174 kg
Silver: Tiki Mohini Malik (Odisha) – 172 kg
Bronze: Shatabdi Bhuiyan (Assam) – 171 kg
Boys’ 81 kg (Youth):
Gold: Sairaj Pardeshi (Maharashtra) – 312 kg
Silver: M. Tarun (Andhra Pradesh) – 287 kg
Bronze: Ayush Rana (Uttar Pradesh) – 264 kg
