Can Asmita Dhone, Daughter of an Autorickshaw Driver, Win a Junior World Weightlifting Medal?

Rajgir, May 11 (NationPress) Asmita Dattatray Dhone from Maharashtra achieved a remarkable feat by breaking two national youth weightlifting records while securing the gold medal in the 49kg category at the ongoing Khelo India Youth Games held at the Rajgir Sports Complex. She surpassed her own national record in both clean and jerk and overall total that she had set at the Commonwealth Championships in Doha, Qatar, just five months prior. Notably, she had earned a silver medal at the 2022 Khelo India Youth Games in Indore, Madhya Pradesh.

Asmita first lifted 95kg in clean and jerk, breaking the national youth record and then lifted an additional two kilograms, raising her overall total to 170kg, an improvement of 8kg from her previous performance at the Commonwealth Championships. Mansi Chamunda from Uttar Pradesh secured the silver medal with a youth national snatch record, breaking the previous record set by Panchami Sonowal from Assam in 2022.

Coming from a modest background, Asmita recently turned 18 and was born in Karad, located in Satara district. Her father, Dattatray Dhone, is an autorickshaw driver, while her mother, Nirmala, works as a dairy farmer. Asmita began her training with Samrat Pawar in her hometown, a practice she continues today.

“I started weightlifting when I was in seventh grade, around 14 years old. My elder sister was also a weightlifter, and her coach, Samrat sir, encouraged me to join her. I am thrilled with my performance and the records I broke,” Asmita shared with SAI Media.

Asmita has accumulated numerous medals at both national and international levels, which led to her inclusion in the Khelo India scheme and the Sports Authority of India’s Netaji Subhash National Institute of Sports in Patiala since 2023.

Last year, she claimed gold at the World Youth Championship in Suva, Fiji, lifting a total of 158kg (70+88kg). Additionally, she secured another gold at the Commonwealth Youth Championship in 2023 in Noida with a total lift of 136kg (60+76kg). She also earned bronze medals at last year's Asian Youth Championship and the 2023 World Youth Championship. Asmita achieved a hat-trick of gold medals at the IWLF Youth Nationals from 2022 to 2024.

“I receive a scholarship from Khelo India and train at NIS Patiala, which is recognized as a National Centre of Excellence (NCOE), for the past two years. Khelo India is an incredible platform for all of us. It motivates me significantly, providing energy and confidence. The stipend of Rs 10,000 is a tremendous help for someone like me, especially since my father is an autorickshaw driver. We manage a small farm and care for two cows, with my mother being a housewife. I also receive sports kits and assistance for travel and accommodation from SAI,” she added.

Her coach, Pawar, remarked, “Firstly, I must say she has inherited strong genes from her parents. Moreover, her discipline speaks volumes about her dedication. Weightlifting demands both muscular strength and technique. She exhibits exceptional technique in clean and jerk. If she enhances her snatch, Asmita will be unstoppable.”

With the goal of winning gold at next year’s World Junior Weightlifting Championships in Ningbo, China, Asmita plans to participate in selection trials following the Commonwealth Youth and Junior Championships in Ahmedabad this August.