Punjab triumph in National Para Powerlifting Championship; Sudhir, Sakina emerge strongest

NAGPUR: Formidable Punjab lived up to their form and reputation to emerge overall champions with highest 32 points in the 17th Senior and 12th Junior National Para Powerlifting Championship, organized under the auspices of Paralympic Committee of India, at the Nagpur University Subhedar Hall on Sunday.
Stamping their authority in style, Punjab lifted the coveted title and pipped their arch-rivals Haryana to second spot.Haryana players tried hard but they could manage to notch up only 22 points.
In all, 140 para powerlifters from 16 states participated in the two-day championship.
Haryana's Sudhir was declared ‘Strong Man of India'. He lifted total weight of 217 kgs. In the women's section, Sakina Khatun bagged the coveted ‘Strong Woman of India' title by lifting a total weight of 87 kgs.
General Manager of WCL Nagpur region Diwakar Gokhale was the chief guest of the prize distribution function. CEO of PCI Omkar Yadav, senior sports journalist Rahul Dixit, Mohansingh Thapa, Yashwant Nimkhedkar and Arjuna awardee Vijay Munishwar were the guests of honour. Rahul Lekurwale conducted the proceedings and also proposed a vote of thanks.
Pravin Sorte, Manoj Balbudhe, Sachin Mathne, Uttam Mishra, Ashok Bhujade, Shekhar Dabhade, Sanjay Bhoskar, Dipali Munishwar, Atharva Munishwar and Latika Mane were present on the occasion.
Results
(Men) 65-kg: Kuldeep Singh (Punjab), G Velmurugam (TN), Devanand Yadav (Chhattisgarh).
72-kg: Gurusevak Singh (Punjab), Praveen Kumar (Haryana), Mohammad Gous (Karnataka).
80-kg: Dharamveer Singh (Chhattisgarh), Jatinder (Punjab), Rahul (Delhi).
88-kg: Sudhir (Haryana), Varinder Singh (Punjab), Joginder Singh Saluja (PCI).
97-kg: Sachin Chaudhary (UP), Rupesh Kumar (Haryana).
107-kg: Parvinder Singh (Punjab), Shyam Singh (Delhi), Satish (Haryana).
Above 107-kg: Rohit (Haryana), Pramod P (Kerala).