KOCHI: A 17-year-old from the city, Celestina Antoniette Rebello, is all set to make the country proud by getting selected for Indian power-lifting team. A resident of Vallarpadom, Celestina is chosen for Indian powerlifting team, which will be representing the country in Asian powerlifting championship.
Currently, under the special training of coach George (5E fitness), Celestina has won silver in the 57 kgs category (Girls U19) at the 63rd National School Games 2017-18 held at Secunderabad in Telangana. She later competed in the Federation Cup Men and Women Powerlifting Championships 2017-18 held in Jammu and won a bronze medal. It was based on her performance in this tournament that she got selected to represent India in the sub-juniors category of Asian championship to be held at Udaipur during May 1 to May 6.
“The eldest of two daughters coming from a middle-class family, Celestina is looking at the help of the panchayat to fund her cost of participation. She began powerlifting training two years ago when we initiated it in Government Girls High School, Ernakulam. She is only 17 and had participated in Under 19 category and won,” said Suresh Pai, powerlifting coach and former champion.He added that interestingly they had gone to Kashmir for her qualifying match, however, once they got there she got wild card entry into the federation cup and won the bronze.
“Celestina has been active in sports since her high school days. She has been playing volleyball and now she has proved her mettle in powerlifting. We are supporting her as much as we can. The school authorities had been a great support too,” said Clydeson Rebello, Celestina’s father.
Apart from Celestina , other Keralites who got selected are Mary Beena (Master 2), Akash TO(sub-junior), Anilkumar MP(Master 2), Xavier VJ (Master 2), Jayadeep Krishna PC (Senior), Vikas TK(Master 2) Sreeraj PS(Junior), Anoop Kumar P (Master 2) and Sharath Kumar (Master 1).