VISAKHAPATNAM: Sincerity, dedication, and willpower, coupled with sheer hard work put a 16-year-old weightlifter, Sanapati Guru Naidu, from an interior village in the north Andhra region on top of the world. The son of a farm labourer couple from Chandrampeta in Nellimarla mandal of Vizianagaram district showed his mettle in the world arena by bagging the first-ever gold medal in World Youth Weightlifting Championship in Mexico on Monday.
Naidu, the youngest of the three sons of Ramaswamy, is now aiming to win an Olympic gold medal for the country. Guided properly towards medal chasing efforts by the well-known international medalist and coach Deva Kumar (Army,) the boy has been showing record performance not only at national level but also at international level competitions.
Naidu, an inmate of Boys Sports Company of Artillery Center in Secunderabad, faced a lot of hurdles due to his family’s poor financial background. But Ramaswamy, who wanted to become a bodybuilder, left the sport due to financial crisis, and his boxer brother Kamu Naidu encouraged him a lot.
“My family supported me a lot and my coach treats me like his son. Because of him, I achieved this feat. I will focus on the Olympic medal for my country. Poverty has never been a hurdle for me because of my parents’ support and coach’s encouragement,” Naidu told TOI over phone from Mexico.g
Naidu developed an interest in weightlifting when he saw lifters practising on his way to school. He learned the basics of weightlifting from famous coach Challa Ramu of Kondavelagada village, who runs a training centre in Chandrampet village. “ I observed him for almost three months before teaching him weightlifting. I wanted to know whether he can continue or not. But he has a stubborn mind and willingness to work hard,’ coach Challa Ramu said.
Naidu was picked by Boys Sports Company coach Deva Kumar during a selection program in the district. He nurtured him for four-and-a-half years to become a world champion. “He has the quality to adapt very fast. He has sincerity, discipline and he works hard. He is an Olympic medal material. But our focus is on the gold medal in the Commonwealth Games in 2026,” his coach Deva Kumar told TOI.
The boy started his career in the national championship by rewriting four national records at Bodh Gaya in 2019 and won a bronze medal in an international meet in 2020. He created another national record in Bhubaneswar this year by lifting (102 snatch+125 Jerk) 227 kg. He surpassed that in Mexico (104+126) with 230 kg and claimed gold.
