Srinagar: The Sher-e-Kashmir Indoor Stadium roared with applause as Srinagar’s most dedicated athletes took to the platform at the District Weightlifting Championship 2024-2025.
Organized by the J&K Weightlifting Association under the aegis of the Indian Weightlifting Federation and supported by the J&K Sports Council, the event was not just about medals but offered a glimpse into the grit and passion of local lifters who have often trained in obscurity.
Speaking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Sabir Ahmad, an athlete from Srinagar, said, “I have spent countless hours lifting scraps of metal in the backyard as weights. Today, standing here, everything seems worth the sacrifices. This championship is an opportunity for me to let everyone see my real talent.”
Mehvish Nazir, a young athlete said, as a girl in this sport, she has faced many challenges. “But weightlifting taught me how to be strong. Competing here in front of a cheering crowd was all I ever dreamed of,” she said.
Similarly, Tahir, an experienced weightlifter, said, it wasn’t about the win but about making sure they are on the national stage.
