Odisha’s weightlifting sensation Harshvardhan Sahu has captured national attention by winning gold and setting two national youth records at the Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG) 2025 — a performance personally lauded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the latest episode of his radio programme Mann Ki Baat.
“The brilliant performances of Harshvardhan Sahu of Odisha, Asmita Dhone of Maharashtra, and Tushar Chaudhary of Uttar Pradesh won everyone’s hearts,” PM Modi said in his 122nd edition of Mann Ki Baat, praising KIYG 2025 as a resounding success.
The 18-year-old, currently training under the Sports Authority of India (SAI) at NIS Patiala, lifted:
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88kg in snatch
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115kg in clean & jerk
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Total: 203kg, breaking the previous national record of 202kg held by Babulal Hembrom of Jharkhand.
Sahu’s 115kg lift not only secured him the gold medal in the 49kg weight category, but also rewrote the national youth record books.
This triumph comes on the heels of his bronze medal win at the World Youth Championships in Lima, Peru, where he lifted 197kg.
Odisha’s medal count didn’t end there. Fellow Odia lifter Jyoshana Sabar also struck gold in the 40kg category, lifting a combined 122kg (55kg snatch + 67kg clean & jerk).
With consistent international performances and rising young stars like Sahu and Sabar, Odisha is fast emerging as a powerhouse in Indian weightlifting. The Khelo India platform continues to play a pivotal role in spotlighting and nurturing this promising talent.
