Orissa town excited about local weightlifter’s CWG prospects

Twenty two-year-old Ravi Kumar is one of the medal prospects for India in weightlifting.

Fifteen weightlifters,seven girls and eight boys,including Ravi Kumar,were selected to participate in the CWG.

“I am very much hopeful for gold medal in CWG,” Ravi,who will showcase his skills on Wednesday,said over phone from the Games Village at New Delhi.

On his personal target in the Games,he said he aimed at lifting a total of 330 kg,which is way ahead of the effort required for gold medal.

“During the training I did a total of 335 kg and I hope to lift 330 kg easily,” he said.

People of this ‘silk city’ are wishing him success in the international event.

While Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BMC) has put up big hoardings wishing him success,’Veer Hanuman Club’,wherefrom he had started his career,has performed yagna for his success.

“His success is not only for Berhampur,but for the country. So we performed ritual before Lord Hanuman wishing his success,” said Narayan Sahu,the president of the club.

A weightlifting trainer at the Army Sports Institute (ASI) at Pune,Ravi had won three gold medals and a silver one in the senior national weightlifting championship held in Rajasthan during March.