Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh’s sports policy under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath continues to yield impressive results on the international stage. At the World Powerlifting Championship 2025 held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, the Guru–Shishya duo from Agra’s Jayaprakash Narayan Sarvodaya Vidyalaya created history by winning Gold and Silver medals for India.
Harish Chandra Becomes World Champion
Harish Chandra, a physical education teacher at the school, clinched the Gold medal in the 77 kg category, earning the prestigious title of World Champion. He also set a national record in the deadlift during the championship.
Raman Kumar Wins Silver
Raman Kumar, a class 11 student at the same school, showcased exceptional talent in the 56 kg category, winning the Silver medal. Their outstanding performances stood out among participants from more than 40 countries, making India proud on the global platform.
Government Sports Policies Empower Rural Talent
The achievements of Harish Chandra and Raman Kumar underscore the effectiveness of the Yogi government’s Khel and Yuva Kalyan Niti in promoting sports in Uttar Pradesh. Both athletes were selected for international participation based on their performance at the recently held National Powerlifting Championship in Gujarat.
Sarvodaya Vidyalaya: A Hub for Sports Excellence
The Jayaprakash Narayan Sarvodaya Vidyalaya in Itaura, run by the Social Welfare Department, has been instrumental in nurturing young sports talent. The department is further strengthening its initiatives by upgrading facilities, including the establishment of a state-of-the-art powerlifting lab with a sanctioned budget of ₹10 lakh. This lab will provide students with advanced training equipment, enabling them to compete at national and international levels.
Encouraging Future Champions
State Minister for Social Welfare, Aseem Arun, congratulated both athletes, calling their achievement a matter of pride for Uttar Pradesh and the country. Officials, including Deputy Director and Planning Officer J. Ram, expressed optimism that many more international-level champions will emerge from the school in the future.
The historic performance of this Guru–Shishya duo demonstrates how focused government policies, quality training, and infrastructure development can provide rural talent with the platform to shine globally.
