A strength lifter from Jaipur's Lalchandpura locality is packing his bags for Kyrgyzstan, hoping to turn last season's bronze into gold on the world stage. Pawan Kumawat will be part of the Indian contingent at the World Strength Lifting Championship, scheduled for September 8 to 12.
Departure from Delhi
According to Chandresh Soni, secretary of the Rajasthan Strength Lifting Association, Pawan will leave for Kyrgyzstan on September 7 along with the rest of the Indian team from Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi. He has earned a place in the senior men's 68 kg category after years of dedicated practice in the sport.
The road that ran through Sikkim
Pawan's spot on the international squad came through trials held during the Senior Strength Lifting Championship in Sikkim, where he delivered a strong showing. For him, the Kyrgyzstan meet is not just another overseas outing but a chance to build on years of hard work and past accomplishments. He has already claimed several medals for India, and this time his focus is on pushing his performance a notch higher to bring home gold.
Training under Pushpendra Singh Rathore
Pawan's preparation is being overseen by his coach and mentor, Pushpendra Singh Rathore, with sessions built around sharpening technique and building the strength needed to handle pressure during competition. Pawan has said that representing the country on an international stage is a matter of pride, and he intends to give it everything he has to do the tricolour proud.
Bronze in Thailand set the tone
Among Pawan's international achievements, his run in Thailand in July 2025 stands out. At the World Strength Lifting Championship held there from July 16 to 19, he won a bronze medal by lifting 125 kg in the incline bench press event of the 76 kg category. That result gave his confidence a significant boost, and he has kept up strong performances at national and international championships since then.
Another big test in his career
Pawan views the Kyrgyzstan championship as yet another major test in his career, coming right after his bronze-medal run in Thailand. As he steps out chasing gold this time, strength lifting enthusiasts not just in Rajasthan but across the country will be watching how he performs.
