Arunachal powerlifter Azad Basfore retains ‘Strongman of India’ title

State bags 23 medals in different categories at Powerlifting nationals

ITANAGAR, Nov 23: Arunachal Pradesh powerlifter Azad Basfore retained the ‘Strongman of India’ title for the third consecutive year at the National Powerlifting Games-2022 by improving upon his own record.

The event, held at Noida in Uttar Pradesh from November 16 to 22 last, saw Azad bench press a total of 162.5 kg (unequipped) to set a new national record under the World Powerlifting Congress (WPC), India.

He had earlier hit 158 kg (unequipped) in the bench press.

Azad, a powerlifting coach by profession, also managed to win a gold medal in the 75 kg bodyweight senior category.

Besides Azad, the Arunachalee powerlifting team also shined at the National Powerlifting Games as they managed to bag a total of 23 medals for the State in various categories of the competition.

The junior category saw Deke Kaha bagging 4 gold medals, Padi Tayo 3 gold and 1 bronze, Taje Mosu 2 gold and 2 silver, Rige Kaye 1 gold and 2 silver, besides Kaling Yao clinched 1 silver medal in the games.

Meta Linggi and Anurag Bharali won a gold and silver medal each in the competition.

The shining star of the event for Arunachal was Donik Rimon, who won 1 gold and 1 silver medal in the teen category.