SAI Gandhinagar Powerlifters Shine at Khelo India Para Games, Clinch 10 Medals

New Delhi: Powerlifting athletes from the Sports Authority of India (SAI) National Centre of Excellence (NCOE) in Gandhinagar delivered a stellar performance at the second Khelo India Para Games (KIPG), which concluded in Delhi on Thursday. The NCOE campers secured 10 medals, including seven golds, in the para-powerlifting competition held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium complex.

Leading the charge were Jhandu Kumar (men’s 72kg), Jaspreet Kaur (women’s 45kg), Seema Rani (women’s 61kg), and Manish Kumar (men’s 54kg), all of whom shattered national records en route to their gold medal triumphs. Notably, Jhandu, Jaspreet, and Manish broke their own national records set just a week earlier at the national championships in Noida.

Reflecting on the outstanding performances, SAI Gandhinagar’s head powerlifting coach, Rajinder Singh Rahelu, a bronze medallist at the 2004 Summer Paralympics, expressed pride in his athletes’ achievements. “Just before the Khelo India Para Games, we had the national championships, where we won 12 medals, including eight golds and three national records. At KIPG 2025, we secured 10 medals, including seven golds and three silvers, along with four new national records. Overall, we have broken seven national records within a week. The KIPG provides international-level exposure, and now the competition fear is gone for our athletes. They are confident and will keep performing well,” he said.

The national record holders were joined on the top podium by Gulfam Ahmed (59kg), Sandesha BG (80kg), and Paramjeet Kumar (49kg), who also secured gold medals. Meanwhile, Shiv Kumar (49kg), Ramubhai Babubhai (72kg), and Rahul Jograjiya (88kg) claimed silver medals.

Established as an NCOE in 2019, SAI Gandhinagar has evolved into India’s premier training facility for para-powerlifting. Highlighting the centre’s rapid progress, Rahelu remarked, “Since 2016, when I joined SAI Gandhinagar, we have been steadily improving. By 2022, young athletes began training regularly, and the centre has transformed in the last four to five years. Initially, we had only a modern fitness centre, but now we have a dedicated powerlifting hall with world-class facilities, air conditioning, and Eleiko sets used in international competitions. Our recovery facilities are also among the best in the country.”

Looking ahead, Rahelu has set ambitious targets for his athletes. “Our next immediate aim is to win at least three to four medals at the World Championships in Egypt this October. Currently, Paramjeet Kumar is the only Indian to have medalled at the World Championships, and he is also from our centre. With the Commonwealth and Asian Games coming up next year, we are preparing with full dedication. We believe that future Paralympic medallists will emerge from this centre, and we have the potential to create history,” he stated confidently.