BHADRAVATI: Sudhir Kumar, who picked up the bronze medal in the men’s 77 kg weightlifting at the ongoing Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, belongs to a family of weightlifters.
His father C K P Raju represented Karnataka in the past and has every reason to be proud of his son. His mother, though wants more recognition for his achievements. Sudhir attributes his success to his motherland and Karnataka, she says.
Sudhir’s elder brothers, Anil and Sunil, are weightlifters and have participated in many competitions. His wife Chandra Shouri Devi is also a weightlifter. Sudhir was initially trained by his father. Raju told Express that one cannot be sure of his performance everyday when you lift. Sudhir’s mother Hemavathi is a former councillor and a referee of national repute in weightlifting. She felt that he deserved the gold medal.
Sudhir’s proud wife Chandra said he is genius with an infinite capacity to endure pain. Chandra was working in the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) but opted for voluntary retirement after her marriage. She continues to take part in competitions but had to stay away from CWG 2010 because of health reasons.
Home was Sudhir’s first school and his parents his first teachers. Later he was trained by KP Manilal in Bangalore and now Shamala Shetty.
This is his third bronze in CWG 2010. He had, earlier, won at CWG 2002 at Manchester and CWG 2006 at Melbourne. Sudhir is an officer in the Indian Navy.
Sudhir’s father runs ‘Sudhir Fitness Centre’ to train and encourage local youths in gymnastics and weightlifting at his house in Hanumanthanagar in Bhadravati.