They started getting attracted to other sports where India was winning medals like shooting and wrestling. Every other youngster wanted to be a wrestler or a shooter but not a weightlifter.
After I won the (bronze) medal in the 2000 Sydney Games, many youngsters got attracted towards weightlifting. Everyone thought that we would get good results after my achievement.
However, things went bad and there were problems when the national weightlifting body suffered from internal politics and split into two. Even the Indian federation was banned. There were ups and downs and the interest shown by kids in the sport only went down.
They started getting attracted to other sports where India was winning medals like shooting and wrestling. Every other youngster wanted to be a wrestler or a shooter but not a weightlifter.
There was lot of negativity surrounding weightlifting and it was compounded by doping problem.
However, having gone through all this in the one-and-a-half decade, I think we stand a chance this time in Rio. I have hopes from the 21-year-old Saikhom Mirabai Chanu. She has created a new record in the seniors after more than a decade. She had lifted 85kg in the snatch and 107kg in the clean and jerk for a total lift of 192 kg. Such a performance has come after a long time.
As for Sathish Sivalingam, I am happy that he wants to better my performance and win a medal for India. Every youngster has a role model and he wants to repeat what he or she has done. It is a good thing. Records will be broken and created. We think that we have to do better than the other.
I think Rio will be an interesting platform for the two lifters.
It is good that they have reached Rio early, which is good considering that they will get more time to acclimatise to the conditions. They will get used to the air, water and the training programme, which will be beneficial for them leading up to the competition.
The world there (in the village) will be entirely different. I want them not to get carried away from watching the best athletes. There will be pressure but you need to control it. They will just need to focus on the positive side and learn from them.
Coaches will play an important role. It is up to them to keep the players away from pressure and also inspire them to learn from others.
I have 100 per cent hopes from Chanu. In fact, I feel she will have a podium finish if she does what she did here — created record here. The athletes have worked hard to be where they are right now. Having worked hard for so many years away from family, it is not easy. I have been praying to God for the success of the two.
I want to add that our prime minister Narendra Modiji's initiative to provide Indian food at the village will serve as a great motivation for the athletes. You get the best food in the village, but then there are some, who like to have Indian food. It is an honour that the PM is showing show so much interest in this and we should be proud of it.
— Karnam Malleswari is a former Indian weightlifter. Malleswari won bronze medal for in 2000 Olympics in Sydney. By this she became first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal. She is a recipient of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna and Padma Shri award
She spoke to Taus Rizvi
Saikhom Mirabai Chanu
Age: 22, Born: Manipur
Chanu will compete in women's 48kg category.
Chanu qualified after her performance in selection trials in Patiala
Chanu 85kg in the snatch and 107kg in the clean and jerk for a total lift of 192 kg
Chanu broke the 12-year-old national record, originally held by her coach and veteran weightlifter Kunjarani Devi, by lifting the largest total in the 48 kg category.
Chanu won silver medal in the women's 48 kg weight class at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, Glasgow
Chanu clamed gold in the 12th South Asian Games in Guwahati, 2016
Chanu is trained by former Indian weightlifter Kunjarani Devi, one of the most decorated Indian sportswomen in weightlifting.
Sathish Sivalingam
Age: 24, Born: Vellore, Tamil Nadu
Sathish will compete men's 77-kg category
Sathish bettered his previous best and lifted a total of 336kg (151kg in snatch and 185kg in clean & jerk)
Sathish has won gold in Commonwealth Games, 2014
Sathish works as a clerk in Southern Railways, Chennai
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