Nilamani powerlifts for a `double`

Little-known Bolangir youngster Nilamani Sahu cornered glory by bagging a `double` with new meet records in the 22nd State Powerliftinting Championship at the Utkal Karate School here on Saturday. Sahu won the two gold medals in the sub-junior and open benchpress category of the 52kg weight class with a total lift of 427 kg. He erased the two previous meet records in benchpress and deadlift events, written in the name of Iswatr Machhkund of Rourkela Steel Plant, by lifting 101 kg and 181 kg respectively. In the 52kg junior category, Pradip Kumar Sahu of Khurda won the gold medal with a total lift of 385 kg, while Bapuni Bastia (372.5 kg) of Khurda and Santosh Gouda (245 kg) of Rayagada claimed the silver and bronze medals respectively. The silver and bronze medals in 52kg sub-junior event went to Pramod Behera (Ganjam) and G Shiva (Rayagada). Madan Adjuad (Bolangir) and Bapuni Bastia (Khurda) secured the silver and boronze medals respectively in the open benchpress event of the 52 kg class. Altogether 253 powerlifters, including 52 women from 14 affiliated districts and two institutions (East Coast Railway and Rourkela Steel Plant) joined the three-day tournament, which was inaugurated by Mission Shakti Director Usha Padhi. Orissa Powerlifting Association secretary Chittaranjan Swain and Utkal Karate School founder Hari Prasad Patnaik were present at the opening funciton.