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Lifting her spirits

Silver medallist in the 44kg class of the junior national powerlifting championship Mohana dreams of being a gold winner

She preferred jumping and short sprinting but she found herself doing powerlifting.

Initially, she found the sport difficult, but being a tough cookie, she did not crumble. Today, B. Mohana is enjoying the fruits of her labour.

The second year BBM student of the Angappa College of Arts and Science finished for the silver in the 44kg class of the recently concluded junior national powerlifting championship in Durgapur in West Bengal.

"I feel the silver has come a little too late for me. I should have got it at least a year before. But, it's always better late than never," says Mohana, who enjoys the dead lifts more than the bench or the squat.

A special win

She has participated in the last three nationals held at Rajasthan, Kolkata and Bihar without much success. So this one turned out to be something really special.

Athletics was Mohana's first love at school but just when she was beginning to shine, her mother, B. Ramalakshmi, a casual labourer in a local mill, forced her to quit running as there was no proper ground available in her area.

"She asked me to take up powerlifting instead as there was a gymnasium close to my house. I agreed to do as she suggested because I understood that she wanted me near her. My mother has been working all her life to support my three sisters and me. And she has always done this with a smile," says Mohana.

Now Mohana feels that the time has come for her to support her hard-working mother.

"It's time I shoulder some of her burden. I want to graduate as quickly as possible. I want to make the most of my powerlifting abilities and find a decent job and an income and realise my dream."

Encouraging talents

She acknowledges the support her college has extended to her. "Our BBM department has formed an association called the SAGA City. It organises seminars and programmes and collects funds to help sportspersons like me. I was the first beneficiary of the association. I am thankful to all of them."

Aiming high

Mohana's aim is to win an international medal. "I have been sweating it out at the RV Gymnasium the last six months. Besides working with my coach, I have also been training for over two hours every day with Shabeena, an international powerlifter. I am confident that one day like other powerlifters I will also return home with an international gold."

R.R

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