By Our Special Correspondent
Gurunayudu Sanapati (16), a youth from Chandrampeta village, Nellimarla mandal, Vijayanagaram district, won a gold medal in world class weightlifters like Karanam Malleswari, Pujari Shailaja, Valluri Srinivasa Rao and Matsa Santoshi from Uttaranchal. At the IWF Youth World Championships in Lyon, Mexico.
In the process, Gurunayudu became the first Indian weightlifter to win a gold medal at the IWF Youth World Championships. Sanapati Ramaswamy, the father of a farm laborer from Chandrampet village, has two other sons.
Ramaswamy wanted to be a weightlifter but had to become a farm laborer due to poverty. He decided to fulfill his dreams through his sons and encouraged them to participate in weightlifting and boxing.
His eldest son Ramakrishna became a weightlifter and won medals in various state and national level tournaments. Later, Ramakrishna had to accept a state government job to provide training facilities for his younger siblings. Ramaswamy's second son Kamunayudu became a boxer and he won medals at various universities, state and national level tournaments.
Noticing his interest in weightlifting, Ramaswamy had high hopes for Guru Naidu. He sent many national and international weightlifters like Matsa Santoshi, Valluri Srinivasa Rao, Moida Ramakrishna and Sanapati Pallavi to Challa Ramu, the gym trainer and mentor.
Guru Naidu has been fascinated with weightlifting since childhood. He started visiting the Kondavelagada Gym when he was 10 years old. Later, he trained at Challa Ramu. His life took a turn for the worse after joining the 8th class at the Army School in Secunderabad. Army School coach Deva Kumar noticed his talent and coached him.
He has won at least 10 gold medals at the district level, 5 gold’s at the state level and 2 gold’s at national level tournaments in the last five years. He won his first international medal (bronze) at the 2019 Asian Championships in Uzbekistan.
"It was a dream come true for me to win gold in the 55kg category at the IWF Youth World Championships. My ultimate goal is to win an Olympic medal," he said. However, the weightlifter said he had not received any assistance from the government except from the Army School.
Challa Ramu said that Guru Naidu has been passionate about weightlifting since he was a child and at the age of 12 he used to walk at least three km to my gym. His dedication and hard work towards sports has grown to today's level. "
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