The Hindu : Sport / Weightlifting : AU hopes to do well

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jan 07, 2005

Sport

Sport - Weightlifting

AU hopes to do well

By Our Special Correspondent

VISAKHAPATNAM, JAN. 6. Host Andhra University will be hoping to see its women weightlifters clinch the team title in the all-India inter-university weightlifting and powerlifting (for men and women) and best physique (for men) championship commencing here on Friday.

AU has won seven medals, including four gold, in weightlifting in the last championship conducted by Panjabi University, at Patiala. This year its women's team was strengthened with the inclusion of several top women weightlifters, including Shailaja Pujari.

The men's competitions in all the three events would be held from January 7 to 9 and the women's competitions in weightlifting and powerlifting would be held from January 11 to 13, the principal of the AU College of Arts and Commerce, D. Panduranga Rao, said at a press conference here on Thursday.

While 86 universities had confirmed their participation, 50 teams have already arrived. About 1,100 men and 400 women are expected to participate in the events. All were being provided accommodation in the Swarna Bharathi Indoor Stadium and several departments of the universities, some vacant quarters and the Ladies Hostel.

The secretary of the AU Sports Board, and organising secretary, M. Syambabu, said that a former chief weightlifting coach of AU, K. Suryanarayana, would be the tournament director while the vice-president of the Indian Weightlifting Federation, Badeti Venkatramiah, would be the overall in-charge.