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Odisha’s weightlifting prodigy Harshvardhan Sahu has become a national sensation after clinching gold and setting two national youth records at the Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG) 2025, a feat that drew praise from none other than Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the latest episode of his radio address, Mann Ki Baat, on Sunday.
"In the Weightlifting competitions, the brilliant performances of Asmita Dhone of Maharashtra, Harshvardhan Sahu of Odisha, and Tushar Chaudhary of Uttar Pradesh won everyone's heart," PM Modi said in the 122nd edition of his monthly broadcast aired on Sunday.
He hailed the recently concluded KIYG as a “big hit,” lauding Bihar’s hospitality and the exceptional talent showcased by more than 5,000 athletes.
Record-Breaking Performance
Harshvardhan Sahu, an 18-year-old lifter training under the Sports Authority of India (SAI) at NIS Patiala, lifted 88kg in snatch and a record-breaking 115kg in clean & jerk, totaling 203kg, smashing the previous record of 202kg set by Jharkhand’s Babulal Hembrom.
The result secured him the gold medal in the fiercely contested 49kg weight class.
Sahu then also lifted 112kg before handling up another 115kg, setting a new national youth record and clinching another gold medal.
Notably, just weeks before these feats, Sahu had returned from the World Youth Championships in Lima, Peru, with a bronze medal, lifting 197kg.
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Odisha Shines with Double Gold
It is worth mentioning that Harshvardhan wasn’t the only weight-lifter from Odisha to dominate the podium. Fellow Odia and Khelo India Athlete, Jyoshana Sabar, clinched gold in the 40kg category with a lift of 122kg (55kg snatch + 67kg clean & jerk).
With Odisha producing back-to-back international-level lifters, India’s weightlifting future appears brighter than ever, and thanks to Khelo India, it’s a future that’s already lifting off.
