The maximum weight that Sushma has lifted is 62 kgs. She is now training for the Open International Games to be held in May 2015.
Sushma Jagdale, who recently won Gold for power lifting at the 14th Paralympic Games held in New Delhi, says she had never imagined getting into formal sports or winning any games. While Sushma has been training for a year now, she is confident of making a name in the upcoming Open International Games.
Sushma speaking with iamin said, “I went for a function which was held for differently-abled people like us and it was there that someone told me about the sports which I could try and play. I saw shot put, javelin and power lifting and chose it as I felt that I would be able to do it.”
Sushma, who suffers from polio since she was barely three years old works at the Mantralaya in the Accounts and Treasury department. Sushma said that the support from her office also has been immense. “I can never stay back in office for work because I have to train daily. So I leave office between 5 and 5:30 pm,” the 30-year-old Sushma said cheerfully. Getting leaves for tournaments has also not been a problem as she gets 30 days of leave under the sports quota.
Sushma trains six days a week; two days swimming, two days gym and the remaining two days she lifts weights. “I cannot to the normal cardio – treadmill and all. Hence I have to swim,” said Sushma. Founder of the Paralympic Power Lifting Association, Mumbai Bhushan Kasekar is her coach. The players also have a doctor who regulates their diet and maintains their general health record.
“I would have never excelled so much without the support of my family. They have supported me throughout and have always said that I could do anything that I wished to,” said Sushma. Her brother recently accompanied her to the Delhi Games.
When asked what motivates her, she said that she lived a very restricted life. “My life was just home to office and office to home. Power lifting has opened new doors for me and has shown me a world I did not know existed. I do it for the joy of it,” said Sushma. She travels from Cuffe Parade to Khar on her Activa and says that the traffic is a problem but when you want to achieve something such things hold no importance.
The maximum weight that she has lifted is 62 kgs. She is now training for the Open International Games to be held in May 2015. These games will have players from around the world. I have to work really hard for the May Games as I will have international competition,” said Sushma.
For the longer version of the report, click here
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