May 25th 2025.
Over the weekend, Prime Minister Narendra Modi showered praise on a talented 16-year-old weightlifter from Odisha, who made waves at the Khelo India Youth Games-2025 held in Bihar. Asmita Dhone, Harshvardhan Sahu, and Tushar Chaudhary were among the names mentioned by Modi during his monthly radio address, 'Mann Ki Baat'.
Harshvardhan, who hails from the town of Haradakhandi in Berhampur, made his mark in the 49-kg category by lifting a total of 203 kg and setting two new national records in the competition. He lifted 88 kg in snatch and a remarkable 115 kg in clean and jerk, breaking the previous record set by Jharkhand's Babulal Hembrom. His impressive performance at the Khelo India Games came after winning a bronze medal at the World Youth Championships in Peru.
The young weightlifter was overwhelmed when he heard his name mentioned by the Prime Minister in his Mann Ki Baat address. He is currently training at the Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports in Patiala, after previously training at the Army Sports Institute in Pune. Harshvardhan comes from a middle-class family with a father who runs a small business.
His achievements have not gone unnoticed, as Modi's mention of his name has brought joy and encouragement to young weightlifters in the country, particularly in Odisha. Arjuna award winner in weightlifting, K Ravi Kumar, expressed his delight at the Prime Minister's recognition of the state's young weightlifting prodigies.
Odisha Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida, state minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena, and several MLAs from Ganjam district also extended their gratitude to Modi for acknowledging Harshvardhan's accomplishments in 'Mann Ki Baat'. Berhampur, known for producing many renowned weightlifters, has once again made the country proud through Harshvardhan's achievements, as stated by MLA K Anil Kumar.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
