Dehradun’s Prithvi Sengupta created history, won bronze medal in IPF Powerlifting Championship – ..

Dehradun’s powerlifter Prithvi Samrat Sengupta has created history by winning the bronze medal in the IPF World Open Powerlifting Championship 2024. He competed here in the 66 kg weight category. Prithvi showed his extraordinary will and dedication in the tournament and won the bronze medal. The tournament was held in Iceland from 10 to 16 November. As for Prithvi, her mother said that the family first noticed her interest in weightlifting when they saw her lifting weights in the gym.

Mother Earth told the story of struggle

In an interview, he said, ‘Prithi’s doctor advised her to indulge in some physical activities because children with Down syndrome often have weak muscles. When he was six years old we gave him special permission to join the gym. This is where we see him getting attracted to lifting weights and trying to lift them with his little hands. After this he started weightlifting and finally joined weightlifting as an amateur three years ago. He started vocational training in Dehradun under the leadership of Aman Vohra two years ago.

Coach Vahora praised Prithvi

About Prithvi, Coach Vohra said that he is quite fearless. He said, ‘I also had to change my coaching strategy to meet their needs. Like other trainees, I often had to patiently explain techniques and strategies to him. He understood all this effectively and implemented it in many tournaments. In just two years of professional training, he won gold medals at the Asian Powerlifting Championships in Kyrgyzstan and the Commonwealth Powerlifting Championships in South Africa. He was the youngest and only Indian among the 59 contestants from Iceland. Our next goal is to represent India in the 2028 Paralympics.

Had to struggle a lot in the beginning

Regarding Prithvi, his mother told how he had to listen to people’s taunts at family functions and school. He said, ‘Prithvi studied in a regular school before joining a special school, but we saw that she was sidelined many times. Even our relatives did not allow their children to play with him during family functions. Today when he is winning awards for the country, the same relatives want to take selfies with him. I would like to tell the parents of such children that they should never lose hope. With the right support they can make you proud.