P4SS, a Delhi-based sport development trust that uses sport as a means for a holistic development of underprivileged youth organised an inter-club weightlifting tournament under the aegis of the Khel Vikas project at the Gram Vikas Kendra at village Mohuda on Sunday.
Sixteen boys and sixteen girls participated in the tournament. Similar events are also scheduled to take place on July 28 and August 11 in and around Brahmapur, said Khel Vikas PRO Vijay Patel. The Mohuda event was inaugurated by Gram Vikas executive director Joe Mediath at Gram Vikas’ Kankia High School.
Speaking about the initiative, P4SS cofounder Suheil Tandon said this is the first time a weightlifting tournament is being held in Brahmapur involving different clubs as part of the preparations in the preseason leading up to the competition season. “The three clubs involved in the tournament nurture the best young weightlifting talents in Ganjam. P4SS has now provided them a platform to showcase their talents,”he added.
The competition was made open to men and women of all the age categories. The participants were given a chance to compete individually as well as with respective teams. There were no weight categories for this competition; instead, participants were competing on the basis of their bodyweights.
P4SS head of Strength and Conditioning Cormac Whelan said the event would allow participants to experience the atmosphere of a competitive event. “This tournament will help build a competitive confidence in both male and female weightlifters, which will be vital in the build-up to the State and national level competitions,” he observed. Indian Weightlifting Federation vice-president and well-known weightlifting coach Narayan Sahu and Joint Secretary of Odisha Weightlifting Association Ramesh Padhi were parts of the judges’ team for this competition.
P4SS is currently undertaking sport development project, Khel Vikas, in collaboration with the award-winning rural development organisation Gram Vikas in Odisha.
Khel Vikas seeks to promote the theme of right to play and intends to support the youth who wish to achieve sporting excellence. The Gram Vikas undertakes activities in the districts of Ganjam, Gajapati and Kalahandi.