A feat that is something to be proud of
A feat that is something to be proud of.18yo Doon boy with Down Syndrome lifts bronze in powerlifting competition in Iceland
Prithvi Sengupta, an 18-year-old youth from Dehradun with Down Syndrome, has won the bronze medal at the World Open Equipped Powerlifting Championship, showcasing extraordinary willpower and dedication.
The championship, organised by the International Powerlifting Federation, was held in Iceland from Nov 10 to 16. Prithvi competed in the special category under the 66kg sub-category, said his mother, Niyateey Shah, and his coach Aman Rai Vohra on Thursday.
Shah, a divorcee who has been raising Prithvi with the help of her parents since he was four, told TOI that the family first noticed his interest in weightlifting when they saw him getting drawn to the weights kept at a gymnasium.
“Prithvi’s doctor had recommended that he engage in some physical activity because children with Down Syndrome often have weaker muscles. We obtained special permission for him to join a local gym when he was six. It was here that we saw him getting drawn to the weights and trying to lift them with his little hands. He then started weightlifting and eventually got into powerlifting as an amateur three years ago before starting professional training in Dehradun under Aman Vohra two years ago,” she said.
Coach Vohra described Prithvi as “fearless”, adding that he had to make slight changes in his coaching tactics to accommodate the boy’s needs. “Unlike other trainees, I had to patiently explain the techniques and tactics a number of times. He was smart to grasp them effectively and implement them in competitions. In just two years of professional training, he won gold at the Asian Powerlifting Championship in Kyrgyzstan and the Commonwealth Powerlifting Championship in South Africa. In Iceland, he was the youngest among 59 participants and the only Indian. Our next goal is to represent India at the 2028 Paralympics,” said Vohra.
Prithvi’s personal journey was fraught with challenges. His mother recounted how he faced rejection at family gatherings and in his first school. “Before joining a school for special children, he attended a regular school, but we noticed he was often sidelined. Even our relatives wouldn’t let their children play with him during family functions because they looked down on him. Today, when he is winning accolades for the country, those same relatives want selfies with him. To parents of special children, I say: never lose hope. With the right support, they can make you proud,” she said.
