Khelo India: Weightlifter from vegetable growing family wins bronze medal
Maharashtra’s weightlifter Shubham Vijay Kalbhor is elated after winning the bronze medal in the boys’ 61 kg category at the Khelo India Youth Games on Tuesday. Kalbhor lifted a total of 240 kg in snatch and clean and jerk and finished third in the Khelo India Youth Games. He told “PTI-Bhasha”, “I tried my best.” Had I lifted a little more weight, I could have won the silver medal. Next time I will play with better preparation.
Kalbhor told that his family does farming in the rural area near Pune in Maharashtra and grows and sells vegetables. He said, “I used to play kickboxing earlier. My uncle inspired me to take up weightlifting.” Kalbhor said he took weightlifting training in his village for two years and later learned the tricks of the sport at a government training centre. His grandfather Tukaram Maruti Kalbhor had also reached Indore to encourage this young player from Maharashtra in the Khelo India Youth Games.
When asked to react to Kalbhor’s success, his giddy grandfather said, “You see the laughter on our faces.” We are all very happy. Shubham is the first player from our entire family to reach this milestone.” Shankar Lapung of Arunachal Pradesh won the gold medal in the boys’ 61 kg category at the Khelo India Youth Games with a total lift of 248 kg in snatch and clean and jerk. While Assam’s Siddhanta Gogoi won the silver medal by lifting a total of 243 kg.
