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The Khel Vikas Annual Inter-Club Weightlifting Competition enters its second year of existence, and will be hosted this year on Sunday the 24th of August at Khel Vikas’ new Centre of Excellence for Weightlifting located at Gram Vikas Mohuda Office Campus, near Berhampur.
This year the competition, which is a pre-season friendly event between weightlifting clubs in Berhampur, will see an increased number of clubs and athletes participating. The Weightlifting Clubs participating in the competition include Beer Hanuman Weightlifting Club, Government Hostel BAM, Balunkeshwar Weightlifting Club, Sankar Physical Club and the hosts, Khel Vikas Weightlifting Academy. More than 50 weightlifters are expected to participate in the 2014 edition of the competition.
The competition will include both male and female weightlifters, split into two competition categories – Juniors and Seniors. The Junior category will comprise of weightlifters below the age of 17 years, whereas the Senior category is open to weightlifters of all age groups. Like last year’s competition, the weightlifters will not be grouped into different weight categories, as is done traditionally in the sport. They will compete in their respective groups (Junior & Senior), and will be awarded percentage points on the basis of the amount they lift compared to their body weight.
The Chief Guest for this year’s competition is Gram Vikas’ new Executive Director, Shri. Shubhasis Pattnaik, who is now heading the organization from its newly inaugurated corporate office in Bhubaneshwar. The competition will also be presided by the Founder and Ex-Director of Gram Vikas Shri. Joe Madiath, the Vice-President of the Indian Weightlifting Federation Shri. Narayan Sahu, Arjuna Awardee Shri. Bijay Sathpaty, Ganjam DSO Shri. AK Pattnaik as well as other dignitaries from in and around Berhampur.
The Director- Founder of Pro Sport Development, Mr. Suheil Tandon, is delighted to continue the tradition of hosting this pre-season weightlifting competition, and reminded us of its importance. “The aim of hosting this competition is for experienced lifters to have a pre-season warm-up, but more importantly to allow young lifters the experience and exposure of competing in a tournament.”
Khel Vikas Weightlifting Academy Head Coach and Head of Sports Coaching at Pro Sport Development, Mr. Cormac Whelan is looking forward to the tournament. “I am expecting a high standard of competition this year, as we have an increased number of talented lifters, many of whom will go on to represent Odisha at National competitions, as they did last year.”
