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Kasturi Rajamurty grew up watching her 52-year-old mother work as a porter at the Tiruvannamalai railway station, carrying bulky bags on her head. Kasturi, 20, won a gold medal in powerlifting at the WPPL World Cup in Novosibirsk, Russia, and brought it home on Friday.
She competed in the 48kg category, deadlifted 75kg and squatted 55kg. "When about to lift the weight at the competition, I thought of my mother lifting those bags at the railway station. Suddenly, my weight felt lighter. My mother is my inspiration. She continues to work hard. I want to win more medals so she can stop carrying heavy luggage," said Kasturi.
Kasturi said she didn't expect to win. Her path was really difficult. As a striker for her school football team, Kasturi won zonal titles while growing up in the small village of Cheyyar in the Tiruvannamalai region. She kept playing the sport at Chennai's Ethiraj College, but after attending a national training camp in Puducherry, she lost interest.
"When I heard my name being announced, I felt light-headed because my only fuel that day was some chicken and water. I realised team sports drained me mentally. No matter how many goals I scored, I didn't feel seen or appreciated," she said.
In 2023, Kasturi found powerlifting to be a discipline that gave her total control. She juggled a demanding program of football practice, college coursework, and powerlifting training while practising under local instructors in Kotturpuram. Kasturi persevered for greater exposure even though her parents initially disapproved of her leaving home. She won 36 medals in district competitions in less than a year. She lost out on the chance to compete in Europe earlier this year.
"I didn't have the money to apply for a visa. I approached our MLA, who gave me ₹25,000, but the competition was called off," she said.
She was given another chance at the Novosibirsk competition. With the help of the Indian Powerlifting Federation, she took advantage of the chance. The Tamil Nadu Sports Development Authority (SDAT) unexpectedly called Kasturi on Thursday and asked her to train for the Olympics in weightlifting.
"I need a job first. My mother is the sole breadwinner. My father is unwell and my sisters are searching for jobs," she said. "I won't be able to concentrate on the sport until I make sure my family is safe and happy," she said.
