Three Tiruchi youngsters bagged gold each at the Commonwealth Power lifting Championship, which concluded at Pune recently.
The gold winners – R. Sureshkumar and M. Jeevan, both students of Urumu Dhanalakshmi College (UDC) and D. Venkatesh, a student of Tiruchi Engineering College (TEC) – took part in the junior category.
Venkatesh competed in the 125 kg category and lifted a total of 685 kg. Suresh participated in the 82.5 kg category and lifted a total of 672.5 kg, while M. Jeevan managed a total lift of 402.54 kg in the 52 kg category. Venkatesh and Suresh are members of Logu Fitness and Jeevan practices at Global Gym.
The youngsters attribute the success to the systematic training they received at their respective gymnasiums. "First of all, we feel honoured for having represented the country. We practiced hard and happy that our efforts have reaped rich rewards," they said in one tone.
Suresh and Jeevan were felicitated at a function organised by their college management in the presence of the former international high jumper N. Annavi, Director of Physical Education, National Institute of Technology – Tiruchi, M. Rajendrakumar, UDC council Secretary M.R. Subramanian and Principal K. Sekar. They were presented a cash award of Rs. 10,000 each on the occasion.
According to UDC’s Director of Physical Education N.S. Sivakumar, the gold medals meant a lot to his boys. "They believed in their abilities and worked really hard to put up a good show at the championship. This performance will motivate them to reach greater heights," he added.
Venkatesh, who is thankful to his college management for extending financial assistance, was commended by the TEC chairman S. Subramaniam.
