KATHMANDU, July 26: Nepali weightlifter Prakash KC has set new junior national record in the ongoing Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships at the Army Physical Training and Sports Centre in Lagankhel, Lalitpur, on Wednesday.
To mark the new junior national record in men’s 69 kg category of junior section, the 18-year-old weightlifter Prakash lifted 100 kg in snatch and 132 kg in clean and jerk. The previous national record in junior section was 82 kg in snatch and 97 kg in clean and jerk set by Om Prakash Vaishya.
Meanwhile in the same section, other Nepali participant Suraj Vaishya lifted 75 kg in snatch and 95 kg in clean and jerk. Suraj who was participating in the international competition for the first time, improved his personal best of 65 kg in snatch and 85 kg in clean and jerk set in Seventh National Games last year.
Weightlifters Kamala, Sanju set national records
Meanwhile Prakash expressed his happiness for setting the new national record. “Setting new national record by improving my personal best is very positive and it will motivate me to do well in the future,” said Prakash who had won gold medal in Seventh National Games lifting 95 kg in snatch and 125 in clean and jerk.
“No my aim is to win medal in South Asian Games (SAG). For that I will continue the training and hard work as SAG is very tough event to bag a medal,” added Prakash.
Suraj Viashya also was delighted to improve his personal best. The 17-year-old weightlifter who studies in grade 10 in Nepalgunj in western Nepal, said that he performed better than he had expected.
“I surpassed my best record. Since this was my first participation in an international event, I hadn’t expected to lift the weight that I did,” said Suraj who is in the weightlifting sport since 14 months.
Nepali weightlifting head coach Jagdish Pradhan seemed satisfied over the performance of his players. “Our target was to improve individual personal records which players achieved. So I am satisfied,” said Pradhan.
He also said that hosting such international competition in Nepal helps the players to have the confidence of playing in front of the home crowd.
“Playing in own country in front of home supporters gives confidence to the players. They can also learn a lot by watching the top players from foreign teams,” added Pradhan.
