The Hindu : Other States / Orissa News : Tribal students bring laurels

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Saturday, Nov 17, 2007
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Tribal students bring laurels

Sib Kumar Das

In six months, a residential high school produced 26 weightlifters, who included 13 girls, thanks to the efforts
of champions

Photo: Linagaraj Panda

Students of Gram Vikas Residential High School undergoing training on Friday. —

KANKIA (GANJAM DIST): Tribal students of Gram Vikas Residential High School at Kankia have turned out to be a force to reckon with in the field of weightlifting in Orissa.

A group of students took up weightlifting as a sport only six months ago. Veteran national-level weightlifters of the city like Narayan Sahu and Ramesh Padhi took interest in imparting training to these students.

Mr. Padhi said these youths were spotted while they were attending a feat near the school six months ago. Mr. Padhi, who happens to be the coach at the Beer Hanuman Club, the oldest gymnasium of the city, contacted the school authorities to allow him to train raw talents of the school to which they agreed.

It’s raining medals

The boys and girls selected for weightlifting were provided basic instruments by the club. Mr. Padhi made regular visits to the tribal school to coach them. Within six months, the school produced 26 weightlifters, including 13 girls.

At the State weightlifting championship held at Titilagarh in October, the participants from the school won one gold, two silver and four bronze medals.

Rashmita Mallik was selected to represent the State in her weight category at the national meet to be held in Imphal. The lifters of the school again proved their might at the All-Orissa rural sport meet held at Baripada when they won four gold and two silver medals. All the six participants were selected to represent the State at the national rural sport meet to be held in Goa. At the 53rd State school-level weightlifting championship, the students of the school again excelled with one gold, two silver and one bronze medal.

Top on list

Although new to the power sport, these tribal students were not new to lifting weights, said Gitanjali Prusty, principal of the institute.

Top lifters of the school – Jashobant Majhi, Prabhasini Mallik, Nivedita Majhi and Rashmita Mallik – hail from tribal pockets of Kalahandi, Ganjam and Gajapati districts. Most of them said their experience in carrying heavy boulders, especially drinking water, at home helped them pick up weightlifting as a sport.

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