PM praises young Ganjam weightlifter in Mann Ki Baat | Bhubaneswar News
Berhampur: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday praised a 16-year old weightlifter from Berhampur, who set two new national records in the recently concluded Khelo India Youth Games-2025 in Bihar.“The brilliant performances of Asmita Dhone of Maharashtra, Harshvardhan Sahu of Odisha, and Tushar Chaudhary of Uttar Pradesh in the weightlifting competition won everyone’s heart,” Modi said in the 122nd edition of his ‘Mann Ki Baat‘ radio address.“I was surprised when the PM mentioned my name along with other Khelo India participants in his Mann Ki Baat address,” said Sahu who is now training at Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports (NSNIS), Patiala for the upcoming Commonwealth Games. “I feel encouraged by his praise and will try to do better in the coming events,” he said. A resident of Haradakhandi here, Sahu bagged a gold medal and set new records in the 7th Khelo India Youth Games held from May 4 to 15. In the 49-kg category, Harshvardhan lifted 88 kg in snatch and a record 115 kg in clean and jerk, totalling 203 kg. He broke the previous record of 202 kg set by Jharkhand’s Babulal Hembrom. He had secured a bronze by lifting 197 kg (87 kg in snatch and 110 kg in clean and jerk) in the World Youth Championships at Lima. Hailing from a middle class family, Harshvardhan started practising weightlifting at a private club here. Before shifting to Patiala, he trained at Army Sports Institute (ASI), Pune. “Young weightlifters, particularly those in Odisha will be encouraged after the PM’s praise,” said K Ravi Kumar, an Arjuna award winner.Deputy chief minister Pravati Parida, commerce and transport minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena and several MLAs of Ganjam district thanked PM Modi for praising Harshvardhan.
