Hardship, sacrifice and a dream: Rishikanta's road to CWG silver

Commonwealth Games silver medallist weightlifter Chanambam Rishikanta Singh's journey from working as a daily-wage labourer during training breaks to winning a medal on the international stage is a story of grit, sacrifice and perseverance.

Born into poverty in Ngairangbam village in Manipur's Imphal West district, the 28-year-old worked in agricultural fields and at construction sites to earn pocket money while pursuing his sporting dream.

His mother, Chandrajini Devi, worked as a daily-wage labourer in agricultural fields, while his father, Chanambam Irabot Singh, was a bus and truck driver.

"We do not own even a single piece of farmland and it was always difficult to support a family of six. We lived from one day to the next," Rishikanta's elder brother Amarjit told PTI.

Rishikanta got admission to the National Sports Academy at Khuman Lampak in Class VI, where education and sports training were provided free of cost. But he still needed pocket money and did not want to burden his mother.

"Whenever Rishikanta came home during the summer or winter vacations, he would work alongside our mother in agricultural fields and even at construction sites to earn his pocket money. The hardships he faced made him mentally stronger," Amarjit said.

On Sunday, Rishikanta won silver in the men's 60kg event with a total lift of 264kg, comprising 121kg in snatch and 143kg in clean and jerk. He came close to winning gold but settled for silver after a knee problem affected his final attempts.

The medal made him the first male weightlifter from Manipur to win a Commonwealth Games medal.

Rishikanta's journey in weightlifting began by chance. His first sporting love was boxing, inspired by Manipur icons Dingko Singh, Mary Kom and Sarita Devi. However, he was selected for weightlifting during trials for admission to the National Sports Academy.

"For some time, he insisted that he wanted to pursue boxing, and as his elder brother I even pleaded with the authorities. But they told us he could not change his sport. So he took up weightlifting and gradually fell in love with it," Amarjit said.

Rishikanta, who serves in the Indian Navy and is posted in Gujarat, had told his brother around five years ago that he would become the first male weightlifter from Manipur to win a Commonwealth Games medal.

"Today he has fulfilled that dream. His success is the result of perseverance, hard work and, above all, my mother's sacrifices," Amarjit said.

Rishikanta's parents, who are currently in Rajasthan with Amarjit, watched him compete live on television for the first time when he won the silver medal.