Orissa powerlifters appeal for sponsorship

Orissa`s two frontline powerlifters Pradip Kumar Patra and Sangeeta Singh made an open appeal for sponsorship to help them participate in the junior cetegory of the Commonwealth Powerlifting Championship to be held at Pune from December 9 to 13. ‘‘Indian Powerlifting Federation selected the duo on the basis of their impressive performance in the National trial camp held last week at Lucknow. But coming from economically weaker families, both are finding it difficult to pay Rs 45,000 by end of this month to meet the cost of participation and dope test,’’ explained Orissa Powerlifting Association secretary Chitta Ranjan Swain at a media conference in Bhubaneswar. ‘‘Since both the lifters have bright chances to win medals in the Commonwealth meet, both government and private organisations should come to their rescue,’’ recommended Swain. Local lifter Pradip, who trains here at Utkal Karate School, has the credential of winning a silver medal in the last Asian Junior Powerlifting Championship at Uzbekistan. Rourkela girl Sangeeta also bagged a silver medal in the Senior Asian Championship held last month at Udaypur. PHOTO: Powerlifter Pradip Patra displays his power in Bhubaneswar on Sept 16, 2009.