In a proud moment for people of coastal Karnataka, weightlifter P Gururaja from Kundapur has won first medal for India on first day of the 21st Commonwealth Games held in Gold Coast in Australia on April 4.
Gururaj claimed silver in the men’s 56kg category on Wednesday. The 25-year-old weightlifter from Kundapur equalled his personal best of 249kg to finish second where Muhammad Izhar Ahmed from Malaysia who is a three-time medallist in the Commonwealth Championships won gold. The third position was taken by Sri Lanka’s Lakmal Chaturanga (114+134).
Son of a truck driver, Gururaja fulfilled his dream of becoming a wrestler with the help of a watchful coach.
Gururaja, son of Mahabala Poojary and Paddu Poojary couple living at Jeddu village, is currently serving Indian Air Force. He laid added emphasis in honing his skill in weightlifting. By lifting total weight of 241 kg in the 56 kg section for men in Asian Games, he got gold medal. In the South Asian Games, he got another gold medal in international weightlifting.
Mahabala Poojary provided good education to his children. Gururaja showed his interest in sports when studying in government higher primary school at Vandse. The then physical education teacher had encouraged him. His talent came into the open when studying in Mookambika high school, Kollur. The physical education teacher of the school, Sukesh Shetty, extended lot of encouragement to him. Gururaja also got support for his interest in wrestling there. Later, he pursued graduation in SDM College Ujire where Rajendra Prasad trained him in weight lifting in tune with his interests. He got training in SDM sports training institute. He emerged as national champion twice when there.
