HARSHADA SHARAD GARUD

First Indian To Win Gold At Junior World Weightlifting Championship

    The teenager Harshada Sharad Garud scripted history to become the first Indian to win a gold medal at the IWF Junior World Championships 2022 at Heraklion in Greece. The Pune-based sportsperson lifted 153-kg in the 45-kg weight category, which includes 70kg in Snatch and 83 kg in Clean and Jerk to finish on top of the podium. Harshada is only the fourth weightlifter to have won medals for India at the Junior World Championships. Mirabai Chanu and Jhilli Dalabehera had won bronze back in the 2013 and 2018 editions, respectively. Achinta Sheuli had pocketed silver in 2021. Harshada pulled clean lifts in each of her six attempts. She was the only individual to achieve the feat among the eight weightlifters.

    Harshada hails from Vadgaon Maval, near Pune. She took up weightlifting as a 12-year-old in 2016, as per her father's instructions. Sharad Garud is a former state-level weightlifter. He had asked her to focus on weightlifting and at the same time, have a go at running. She is currently a first-year student (Bachelor of Arts) at Savitribai Phule Pune University. Harshada won gold at the 2020 Khelo India Youth Games in the Under-17 category. She had lifted a total of 139 kg in the women's 45 kg category. 

    Right before the start of the world event, Harshada and the rest of the contingent from India for the junior world championship had trained at Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports (NIS) in Patiala for a month. There, these promising youngsters also got to meet with senior weightlifters, including Tokyo Olympic silver medallist Mirabai Chanu. Harshada had managed to pull off clean lifts in Greece in all six attempts and was the only athlete to achieve the feat in the eight-lifter field. Hincu Teodora-Luminita of Moldova bagged the bronze 149kg (67kg+82kg) in the non-Olympic category. The other Indian in the field, Anjali Patel finished fifth overall with a total effort of 148kg (67kg+81kg). Medals are awarded separately for snatch, clean and jerk, and total lift in continental and World Championships. But, just one medal  for total lift is awarded in the Olympics.

    Historically, workouts for women were focussed on using lighter weights at a higher repetition range. The overwhelming fear was women would get too masculine and bulky from heavy lifting. Even after women’s strength sports became recognised in the 1970s and 80s, concern lingered around short and slight-framed women lifting heavy weights.Contrary to this popular but unscientific belief, weightlifting can actually help women build a toned physique as it is the most efficient way towards weight loss while retaining muscles. A study published in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research has also shown that lifting weights can improve bone density in women and reduce risk of fractures and bone-related diseases. Other benefits include reducing bad cholesterol, improving posture, boosting mood and simply feeling much more confident about the physique.

    The podium finishes take India's medal haul to three in the ongoing event. Gyaneshwari Yadav clinched the silver medal while compatriot V Rithika finished third to give India a double podium finish in the women's 49kg category. Having achieved this, many young aspirants boost their moral and gear up themselves in future course of action they choose. Indeed, it is a moment of pride that Harshada fetches for the country. Also, women are emerging in a way that they are no longer less than men. Truly, Harshada and like other emerging sportsperson deserve our salutation.