Chennai will see a weightlifting champion if things go on the right track.

Sixteen-year-old K Christopher of K K Nagar won third place in the State-level power weightlifting championship held in Avinashi, Tirupur, recently. He will now compete in the national-level, under-17, 74 kg category to be held in Maharashtra November.

Son of an auto driver, Kumar, and schoolteacher Arul Selvi, Christopher aims to win medals in Asian Games. A class 12 student of Jawahar Higher Secondary School, Ashok Nagar, he won at the State level last year. But due to public exams that were nearing, he did not attend the national championship. Though he is an athlete from his early school days, his potential in weightlifting was identified by trainer Lakshmanan, who runs a gym at MGR Nagar, in K K Nagar.

“I just went to the gym just like any other person and it was my coach who saw my potential and asked me to do weightlifting. And after some initial hardship, lifting came easily to me,” said Christopher.

“Initially, my parents were against the idea of my doing weightlifting. But I sneaked out and trained for the championship with the help of my coach. After winning my winning the last year district- and State-level competitions, my parents were convinced that I can achieve in the sport,” he added.

Speaking about his trainer, Christopher said, “My coach is my biggest motivation. He advises me regularly and I practise three hours daily from 5 am to 8 am. My trainer and others in the gym have been supportive of me as they have sponsored me to take part in State-level competitions.”

“Christopher is a hard worker and he will win more medals in future. I saw his potential and trained
him. I haven’t asked him for any fee but sometimes he gives me money voluntarily. If he performs well in the national meet, he will get admission in good colleges through sports quota which will reduce his parents’ difficulties,” says his trainer Lakshmanan, who is also a national- and State-level
weightlifting referee. Christopher’s class teacher, Jyostna said, “We are sure that he will make it big in weighlifting, that not only brings a name for  him but also the school.”

Christopher has already got offers from a private engineering college in Coimbatore after winning the State-level competitions. He wants to study architecture and compete in more weightlifting
meets. “My friends, family and teachers are continuously supporting me and I will not disappoint them,” said Christopher.

Christopher resides at 1276, 77th Street, 12th Sector, K K Nagar, and can be reached at 93808 08604.