Rakesh Secures First Place in District-Level Bastar Olympic, to Showcase His Strength at Divisional Competition

Raipur, Dec 2025 Rakesh Kumar Churendra of village Chihro in the Durgukondal block of Kanker district delivered a remarkable performance in weightlifting by securing first place at the district-level Bastar Olympic competition. The 22-year-old athlete shared that his inspiration for weightlifting came through the ‘Puna Pariyan Nai Udaan’ initiative, run by the Kanker district administration, where he received training under coach Shri Rikhi Ram Sahu. Coming from a rural background, Rakesh’s success at the Bastar Olympic has become a matter of pride for the entire region.

Rakesh follows a disciplined routine, practicing daily from 7 am to 9 am. Despite facing a severe shortage of resources, he demonstrated exceptional determination by training with cement-filled weights and wooden bars. At the district-level Bastar Olympic, he lifted 65 kilograms, winning the gold medal. Recalling his journey with pride and excitement, Rakesh said that financial hardships and lack of proper equipment created many challenges, but he never gave up.

Currently, Rakesh is preparing for the divisional-level competition, which will be held at the Bastar divisional headquarters in Jagdalpur. He is highly enthusiastic about the upcoming event. His goal is to win the divisional competition and eventually make his mark at the state and national levels, bringing glory to his village Chihro and Kanker district.

Encouraging the youth of the region, Rakesh said that if one’s goals are strong and efforts sincere, the lack of resources cannot become a barrier. Rakesh’s inspiring journey sends a powerful message to the youth of Bastar that great dreams can be achieved through sheer willpower and hard work.