By clinching gold in the senior category of the All India Powerlifting Bench Press Deadlift Championship held last month in national capital New Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir-based power weightlifter Mohsin Khan has etched his name not only in the world of sport, but also in the minds and eyes of all Kashmiris.
Hailing from Srinagar’s Batamaloo area, Khan, 25, lifted 125 kg in the bench press, 230 kg in deadlift and 180 kg in squat, to achieve a record total lift of 535 kg in the event in which more than 3000 athletes from across India participated. The championship was held at the Indira Gandhi International Stadium from September 22 to September 24.
A gym trainer by profession, Mohsin told Brighter Kashmir, “To win gold on debut at a national-level event for me is a very big achievement. Secondly, what made this achievement memorable for me was the fact that it was held in the national capital, New Delhi, at the Indira Gandhi International Stadium and that I secured the gold in front of my cheering fellow Kashmiri sportspersons.”
“We were representing the J&K Sports Association and all of us athletes, big or small, were sponsored by the association. I am very grateful, satisfied and happy to see a sports association of Kashmir taking care of every need of the sports contingent for the first time, including costs,” Khan informed further.
Talking about the finer aspects of his sport, Mohsin said, “The main aspect of power weightlifting is that we have to lift specific kilograms of weights within a prescribed time to determine one’s physical strength. There are three categories of powerlifting – bench press, deadlift and squat—what you are eventually able to lift in total determines the winner. Bodybuilding is a unique sport, you have to display your body, and you have to represent your body, show your physical strength.”
When Brighter Kashmir asked Khan what kind of message he would like to send out to the youth of Kashmir, he said, “My only message to the youth is that they should link themselves up with sports, any kind of sport, whether it is body building, football and cricket, whatever. The government in J&K is supporting the youth in sports. I am hopeful about every sports association extending this help and support so that we young Kashmiris can bring glory and fame to the Union Territory not only at the national level, but also at the international level. Before there were hardly any facilities, but now there is a lot of improvement in terms of facilities, gyms, etc. We now see new gyms being launched and opened almost every day in the region, which is a good sign.
In the four years that have passed since he started his bodybuilding career, Mohsin has made an impact gradually, first at the regional level and now on the national stage. The focus and intensity with which he pursues his sport is an inspiration for all youth of Kashmir.
Trained by Coach Sameer Zahoor, Mohsin said that for achieving gold in the All India Powerlifting Bench Press Deadlift Championship this year, he had to follow a rigorous training regimen every day for four consecutive months. During this period he acquired expertise in different techniques of powerlifting, he said.
So far, he has won three gold medals and a number of other titles, but winning gold at national level on debut is icing on the cake.
“It is a big honour for me and it definitely has given a boost to my confidence as a sportsperson,” he said.