BENGALURU : Suhani Gandhi, the sister of Kannada actor Pooja Gandhi, is all set to be the first female from Bengaluru to represent India at the World Powerlifting Competition, in the under 90+ category, from July 13-15 in Russia. While this is her first time competing at the international level, Suhani shifted from weightlifting to powerlifting three months back, training at least three hours every day. Trying her hand at the sport that is still in its nascent stage in India, Suhani says, "Although powerlifting is still an upcoming sport here, I was fascinated by the strong women who participate in it. There are more opportunities internationally." She adds there is less awareness on the sport.
Talking about training and diet in powerlifting as compared to weightlifting, she says, "Weightlifting requires a specific diet, with high protein and carbs, the diet is not so specific in powerlifting," says the 31-year-old, who started weightlifting three years ago. She was deemed the 'strongest woman in India' in May as part of the Strongman India League competition, which was held in Goa.
Coach Raghavendra and four participants, including Varad Patil, Deepak, M Azmat from Bengaluru and Suhani, will be representing the nation. Raghavendra was a silver medalist two years in a row at the same competition. He says, "Powerlifting has existed since the 1800s, but Bengaluru still has a long way to go in terms of fitness. People need to be educated on the sport," he says, claiming to run the only gym that trains in powerlifting here.
Struggling to get funds for the sport, he explains that athletes travel on their own money and have managed to find a few sponsors. "It is challenging as the sport requires maintaining your diet, flight expenses and more, which costs around `2 lakh," says a disappointed Raghvendra. "Powerlifting is a three-way process including deadlifts, squats and bench presses, and is based on the maximum score one gets in a tournament. All four of my students will win a medal, as they are on top of their game," adds Raghvendra, whose training centre is in Basaveshwaranagar. For details, contact 9740445167.