15-Year-Old Indian Weightlifter Pritismita Bhoi Sets World Record at World Youth Championships in Peru
Pritismita Bhoi, a 15-year-old Indian schoolgirl, recently astonished the global weightlifting community by breaking the world record at the World Youth Weightlifting Championship in Peru. Competing in the 40 kg category, Pritismita lifted an impressive 76 kg in the clean and jerk style, effectively lifting nearly double her body weight.
Despite the amazement of the audience, Pritismita remained composed, demonstrating her familiarity with lifting heavy weights. As a trainee at the High-Performance Centre in Dhenkanal, Odisha, she has undergone rigorous training designed to identify and nurture athletic talent from a young age.
At the championships in Lima, Peru, Pritismita lifted 57 kg in the snatch style and 76 kg in the clean and jerk, achieving a total lift of 133 kg and securing the gold medal. In the process, she surpassed the previous world record of 75 kg in the clean and jerk by one kilogram.
Pritismita was not the sole Indian star at the event. Her compatriot, Jyoshna Sabar, also from Odisha, secured the silver medal by lifting 56 kg in the snatch and 68 kg in the clean and jerk. Other Indian medalists included Payal in the girls’ 45 kg category and Babulal Hembron in the boys’ 49 kg category. Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik was among the first to congratulate the winners.
These young athletes exemplify determination and confidence, signaling a bright future for Indian weightlifting. Their success underscores the potential for India to become a formidable presence in the sport on the global stage. It is now incumbent upon the government to identify and train more such talents to achieve international success.
India could take inspiration from China’s approach to sports development. In 1959, Chinese table tennis player Rong Guotuan won the country’s first world title, marking the beginning of China’s rise as a sporting superpower. Since then, Chinese athletes have won 1800 world championships and broken 1119 world records.
India has the potential to emulate this success by fostering talent in rural areas, prioritizing sports, and maintaining a steadfast commitment to achieving excellence. Pritismita’s achievements highlight the talent within India that, with the right support and development, can reach unprecedented heights.
