COIMBATORE: A 20-year-old city student has been declared the “strong boy of world 2020” at the recently-concluded 21st world powerlifting championship in Maharashtra.
Nirmal Nagendran, a resident of Ganapathy, won the first prize in the 75kg category under 23 beating 25 other participants, including those from countries such as Nepal, Russia, Indonesia and London. The first-year MCom student has been training in weightlifting and powerlifting since 2016.
His journey to the fame started in November 2016, when he went to a neighbourhood gym at Avarampalayam with a longing to build his skinny body into a broader and stronger one. “To build body mass and muscle, I was introduced to weight training. The coach noticed how I was able to strengthen myself and progressing quickly, and took me to a district-level tournament in which I won the silver medal,” recalls Nirmal. There has been no looking back since then.
Nirmal then changed gyms, got noticed by the Amateur Powerlifting Federation of India and began working out at its gyms. “I went to V Tone Fitness Studio at Peelamedu and other gyms of the federation in the district.” By the age of 18, he started winning gold medals at the state power lifting championships. “After completing my graduation, I began to solely focus on powerlifting.” He trains six hours a day – in the morning he focuses on general fitness and in the evening on powerlifting.
In the recent championship that concluded at Amaravathi in Maharashtra on December 7, Nirmal lifted 605kg weight in raw powerlifting category. “It’s the powerlifting federation and gym that sponsor my participation and travel, while my parents encourage me and cook my special low-calorie diet, which often includes chicken without oil, masala or salt. My college also motivates and allows me to focus on training and tournaments.” He is a student of STC Arts and Science College in Pollachi.
Nirmal is expected to return to the city on Wednesday morning.