Sparkle in power lifting - A class of new junior Athletes – India getting ready for a showdown in the world of sports
Sunita Parikh
Apr. 30, 2005

India is blessed with a new generation of athletes that will spark the ignition of world-class athletics in coming years. These are young, enthusiastic young people who have grown up in affluent India – full of self-respect and dignity.

According to media sources, India's Midhun Joseph stole the limelight by clinching the gold medal with a record shattering performance in the Squat event in the Sub-junior division of 52 kg category for men in the Asian Powerlifting Championship at the Raiban auditorium, here today.

Eighteen-year old Midhun, a first year B Tech student of Engineering College, Pulinkunnu, in Kerala, did his father, P J Joseph proud by shattering the squat record of 170 kg held by India's V Rao in 2002 at Chinese-Taipei. Midhun lifted 187.5 kg.

In the Bench Press, Midhun had lifted 90 kg and in Dead Lift 182.5 kg to have a total of 460 kg. Joseph himself was a renowned powerlifter and an Arjuna Award winner.

India's V Malleswar Rao bagged the silver with a total of 455 kg (Squat 160, Bench Press 95, Dead Lift 200).

"I was confident that Midhun would win the gold. He had been working very hard for it," Joseph said.

In the ''''Masters three'''' Division in 52 kg class, Hong Kong's Pok Kim Won claimed the gold with a total of 315 kg (115, 67.5, 132.5 kg) while India's P M Thomas settled for the silver at 295 kg (107.5, 47.5, 140 kg).

Indian lifters made a clean sweep winning both the gold and silver medals in the ''''Masters 2'''' and ''''Masters 1'''' divisions while in the ''''Senior'''' division, India's P Suresh cornered glory with an aggregate lift of 555 kg (215, 140, 200 kg) while Ibhrahim of Iraq with a total of 410 kgs (150, 80, 180) settled for the second slot.

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