For Ragala Venkata Rahul, the journey to qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympics begins when this gifted weightlifter from the Telangana Sports School competes in his maiden World Senior championship to be held in Almaty (Kazakhstan) from November 4 in the first week of November. The only other weightlifter from this part of India to make it to the meet is Matsa Santoshi in the women's section.
This is will be his maiden foray into what his coaches S. A. Singh and Pachipala Manikyalu confess should be the most challenging assignment. The 17-year-old weightlifter continues to be the star performer from the Sports School on international platforms.
Some of Rahul's major accomplishments in the last one year have been gold medals in the Youth Asian, Junior Asian and Junior Commonwealth championships. Yet for someone who picked India's only medal in the recent Youth Olympics in Nanjing (China) when he clinched the silver in the 77 kg category with an effort of 316 kg (141+175), the Almaty meet should be a huge learning curve. “Yes, it is going to be very, very difficult. But at the same time, it is the kind of challenge I am glad to be facing well ahead of the Rio Olympics,” says Rahul.
With the World Championship also being one of the many qualification events for the Rio Olympics, Rahul feels there will be some pressure. “Yes, the training has bee really intense in the national camp and the coaches are doing a wonderful job in helping us all (the 14 weightlifters selected for the Worlds). But again, it all depends on how well we adapt to the conditions, atmosphere and face the pressure factor too,” the champion weightlifter explains.
Inspired by Karnam Malleswari, India's first-ever woman medallist in Olympics (weightlifting bronze in 2000 Sydney Games), Rahul has definitely bigger dreams to chase. “Representing India in the Olympics is my ultimate goal. Given the way things have been moving so far in the circuit, I am confident, if not over-confident, of making it big,” says Rahul.
Rahul is aware that whatever he had won so far including the three gold medals in the Asian Youth Championship and two medals in the IWF Youth Boys World Championship in Tashkent a year ago are a thing of the past. “What happened in the past is irrelevant. This is a totally new challenge and I am ready to face it,” reminds the young champion.
AP Weightlifting Association Secretary Badeti Venkatramaiah, who has been a guiding force for Rahul by way of sending him to major events given his potential, too is optimistic of a better future. “The best part he is just 17. He can go places as he never complains of getting tired during training schedule and more importantly always keen to learn and keep improving,” he points out.
As he tries his luck in the 77kg category, the World Championship should give Rahul an experience of what it means to be in the big league, where the best in the world compete.
