Mukesh Singh Gehlot (125kg Raw) and Gaurav Sharma (140kg+ Raw) have won gold medals in their respective categories at the World powerlifting championship here.
[In competition, lifts may be performed equipped or un-equipped (typically referred to as ‘Raw’ lifting or ‘Classic’ in the IPF specifically). Equipment in this context refers to a supportive bench shirt or squat/deadlift suit or briefs].
Gehlot, who earlier won gold in 2013, thus became World champion for the second time on Wednesday night. Vaibhav Rana (125kg Raw) and Kanwardeep Singh (110kg Raw) also took silver in their respective events to take the Indian medal tally to four on the opening day of the three-day event.
Mukesh holds the national record for winning the much-coveted Mr. India title four times. He belongs to Kakrola village near New Delhi and was born into a family of farmers. Inspired by his family members and friends, many of whom had a background in sports, Mukesh started practising bodybuilding when he was 19. While speaking to Indian Bodybuilding, he said, “My strong support has been my elder brother, Kulweer Singh. He helped me in every way possible. He used to give me money that I needed for my gym and diet. Not just financial, he was also my moral support. I can never thank him enough. Another person I want to mention is my wife. When I got married I was in a job. Then I decided to quit it and do full-time bodybuilding. She supported me through everything. She told me to do what I feel is right and stood by me. Even till date, she takes care of my diet. She prepares all my meals. She is my strength.”
Gaurav Sharma, who belongs to New Delhi also, trained under the fabled Dronacharya awardee Bhupendra Dhawan.
