Did Aisengfa Gogoi Break the Youth National Record at KIYG 2025?

Rajgir, May 11 (NationPress) Aisengfa Gogoi from Assam has won the gold medal in the 55kg weightlifting category, achieving a remarkable overall lift of 183kg at the ongoing Khelo India Youth Games held at the Rajgir Sports Complex this Sunday. The 17-year-old athlete, who has been training at the Sports Authority of India’s (SAI) National Centre of Excellence (NCOE) in Lucknow since 2023 under coach Rahul Sharma, has broken the previous youth national record of 182kg, set by Koyel Bar from West Bengal at the 2024 Asian Championships in Doha, Qatar, last December.

Aisengfa, who narrowly missed a medal at the Khelo India Youth Games in Chennai last year, started her competition with a successful 75kg snatch, followed by clean lifts of 79kg and 81kg.

During her competition, Aisengfa matched the snatch record of Mina Santa from Odisha at 81kg, previously established at the World Youth Championship in Suva, Fiji, last year. At the event in Rajgir, Mina secured the silver medal with a total lift of 177kg (80+97), while Hema Sri Karangi from Andhra Pradesh took home the bronze with a total lift of 164kg (72+92).

Aisengfa Gogoi has been part of the Khelo India initiative since 2023, and last year she earned a bronze medal at the IWLF National Weightlifting Championships in Nagrota Bagwan, Himachal Pradesh. She also achieved a silver medal in the ASMITA Weightlifting Zonal League in Bhubaneswar last year with a total lift of 167kg (73+94).

“This is my first gold in Khelo India, and I want to express my gratitude to my coach, parents, and especially SAI NCOE Lucknow for their support in enhancing my skills and technique. Training at the Lucknow center for the past two years has been instrumental in my development. As a Khelo India Athlete (KIA), I receive a monthly stipend of Rs 10,000. Programs like Khelo India are vital for athletes like me, allowing us to evaluate our performance against international standards. My ultimate goal is to represent India at the Olympic Games,” Aisengfa shared with SAI Media.

Inspired by her father, Deepjyoti Gogoi, who practiced powerlifting, Aisengfa began her weightlifting journey at just 13 years old. Deepjyoti manages a small tent house business in their hometown of Karulakalia in the Sibsagar district of Assam, while her mother, Nabanita, is a housewife.

“He didn't compete for the state but practiced powerlifting at home. That motivated me to pursue the sport. I always aspired to be as strong as him. I didn't anticipate winning a medal, especially after recovering from a minor injury. My goal this year is to qualify for the Commonwealth Youth Championships later this year through the selection trials,” she explained.

In other competitions, Sunil Singh from Punjab secured the gold in the boys 61kg category with a total lift of 238kg (108+130), outpacing his nearest competitor, Anik Modi of West Bengal, by six kilograms (97+135). Jayanovaraj J. from Tamil Nadu took home the bronze with a total lift of 231kg (104+127).

In the boys 67kg category, Yash Khandagale of Maharashtra lifted a total of 267kg (122+145) to win the gold medal, surpassing closest competitor Abhinob Gogoi of Assam by a margin of 16kg (116+135). Samir Khan, another athlete from NCOE Lucknow, earned the bronze with a total lift of 241kg (109+132).