In a world that often looks down upon those who are differently-abled, Prithvi Sengupta, an 18-year-old from Dehradun with Down Syndrome, has risen above the stereotypes to achieve the extraordinary.
The teen, and powerlifter, participated in the IPF World Open Equipped Powerlifting Championship in Iceland recently and snagged the bronze medal, in turn, inspiring all with his unassailable spirit.
The journey of 5,000 miles: From India to Iceland
Competing under the 66kg sub-category in the special category, Sengupta’s journey has been nothing short of awe-worthy. From the nooks of Doon where he trained harder than most to the podium, his weightlifting endeavour began when he was a young kid. In the words of his mother, “His doctor recommended physical activity, as children with Down Syndrome often have weaker muscles. So, when he was six, we obtained special permission for him to join a gym.”
Sengupta is ‘only the second person from the state to win a medal’ at IPF
What began as a simple fascination grew into a dedicated pursuit, excelled through hours of practice and praise-worthy dedication. “This is not just a medal; it is a moment of transformation for the sports community in Uttarakhand. Prithvi is only the second person from the state to win a medal at the open world powerlifting championship, the last being 15 years ago,” Sengupta’s coach Aman Vohra shared with the media. Vohra has been training the powerlifting champ for two years.
At the prestigious competition that took place in late November, Sengupta went ahead to bag a Silver in Squat and a Bronze in Deadlift, with an overall Bronze in the category, thus, earning the title of the ‘Mountain Beast’.
