14-YEAR-OLD JYOSHNA SABAR MAKES INDIA PROUD AGAIN
Bhubaneswar (13/07/2023) : The Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships kicked off on July 12, 2023 at Gautam Budh University, Greater Noida, with an impressive display of strength and skill by Indian weightlifters.
In a remarkable achievement, India has already claimed three gold medals in the competition. In the Youth Category (40kg), Jyotsna Sabar emerged victorious, showcasing her exceptional talent and dedication to the sport.
Asmita triumphed in the Youth & Junior Category (45kg), while Komal Kohar conquered the Senior Category (45kg), highlighting the depth of talent among Indian weightlifters. This five-day tournament has attracted 253 weightlifters from around the world, including 52 Indian participants, who are fiercely competing in the senior, junior, and youth divisions.
The Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships not only provide an excellent platform for athletes to showcase their skills but also serve as a test run for the prestigious AWF Asian Junior and Youth Weightlifting Championship, scheduled to commence later this month. India is hosting the tournament for the second time, having successfully organized it in Pune back in 2015.
The country has once again demonstrated its ability to deliver top-quality sporting events, showcasing its commitment to promoting weightlifting and providing a nurturing environment for talented athletes to thrive. One shining example of India's emerging weightlifting stars is Jyotsna Sabar.
Hailing from the Pekata village in Odisha's Gajapati district, Jyotsna is a first-generation Adivasi student and the daughter of farmers Kirtan Sabar and Gachameri Sabar.
Her journey to success began in 2016 when she joined the Gram Vikas High School in Kankia village.
In 2018, she further honed her skills at the Tenvic High Performance Weightlifting Centre in Bhubaneswar, dedicating herself to intense training. Currently pursuing her studies at the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) in Bhubaneshwar, Jyotsna has consistently excelled in weightlifting, earning medals at various state-level championships.
She holds state records in both the snatch (47 kg) and clean and jerk (57 kg) categories.
In addition, she secured a silver medal in the 40 kg category, with a combined lift of 108 kg, at the first Khelo India Youth Games held in Himachal Pradesh in June 2022. The outstanding achievements of Jyotsna Sabar and the other Indian weightlifters in the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships demonstrate the incredible potential and dedication present in the Indian weightlifting community.
These successes are a testament to the hard work and support provided by institutions such as the Tenvic High Performance Weightlifting Centre and the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences. As the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships continue, all eyes are on India's formidable weightlifting team, as they strive to add more medals to their tally and make their country proud. Gram Vikas, a community development organisation working in Odisha and Jharkhand since 1979, empowers rural poor and Adivasi communities by building their capacities, strengthening community institutions, and mobilising resources.
With a vision of achieving an equitable and sustainable society where people live in peace with dignity, Gram Vikas has touched the lives of over 600,000 individuals across 1700 habitations in 27 districts of Odisha and Jharkhand. For more information, please visit the official website of Gram Vikas at www.gramvikas.org..
