The Odisha Weightlifting High-Performance Centre, set up by the State Government and managed by Tenvic Sports Education Pvt. Ltd. conducted open trials to search for the brightest talent in the sport. The trial aims to identify potential weightlifters and provide them with an opportunity to fulfil their potential with proper training and guidance.
At the trials, a total of 32 athletes participated, 24 of them being male lifters, and 8 female lifters. The athletes were from different age groups and hailed from across Odisha, with a majority of them coming from Rayagada, Malkangiri and Berhampur.
General Secretary of Odisha Weightlifting Federation, Narayan Sahu and Odisha’s Weightlifting Coach Ramesh Chandra Padhi were at the trials and made a note of the participants. They were also a part of the officiating team along with Kiran Digal, a former Indian weightlifter. The results of the trials will be declared within 2 weeks and the selected athletes will receive official invitation letters from Tenvic.
Elsewhere, there is much for sports lovers in Odisha to cheer for as the State gears up to host the Commonwealth Table Tennis Championship which begins on 17 June at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Cuttack.