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Key Points

The Weightlifting Warriors Academy has just opened its residential wing, marking a significant milestone in India's Olympic preparation strategy. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju expressed supreme confidence in the academy's potential to produce future Olympic champions. The facility, established by Chief National Coach Vijay Sharma, can accommodate 60 athletes and currently trains 55 weightlifters aged 8-14 and elite athletes. Olympic Silver Medalist Mirabai Chanu is personally committed to mentoring the next generation of weightlifting talent, viewing the 2036 Olympics as a national commitment.

Key Points: Rijiju Launches Mirabai Chanu's Weightlifting Warriors Olympic Hub

  • State-of-the-art facility launched for 60 young weightlifters
  • Aimed at producing Olympic champions by 2036
  • Supported by national sports organizations
  • Mentored by Olympic Silver Medalist Mirabai Chanu
2 min read

Confident that Weightlifting Warriors Academy will definitely produce Olympic Champions: Union Minister Kiren Rijiju

Union Minister reveals groundbreaking weightlifting academy targeting 2036 Olympics, backed by Mirabai Chanu's vision and national sports strategy

"The 2036 Olympics is not just a dream for us; it is a commitment for our country - Mirabai Chanu"

Modi Nagar, June 8

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said that he is very confident that the newly inaugrated residential wing of the Weightlifting Warriors Academy will produce a lot of Olympics champions in the near future.

Kiren Rijiju on Saturday inaugurated the residential wing of the Weightlifting Warriors Academy, the centre where Olympic Silver Medalist Mirabai Chanu trains, marking a significant milestone in India's Olympic preparations for 2036.

"I'm confident that we will definitely produce Olympic Champions from Weightlifting Warriors Academy, at Modinagar in Uttar Pradesh," Kiren Rijiju wrote on X.

https://x.com/KirenRijiju/status/1931556089461682473

The state-of-the-art facility, established by Chief National Coach Vijay Sharma in September 2024, will now provide accommodation for up to 60 athletes in 30 fully equipped rooms.

Currently, 40 young athletes aged 8-14 years and 15 elite athletes are also training at the academy. Speaking at the inauguration, Rijiju congratulated the team and expressed his confidence in the academy.

"I would like to congratulate the team at Weightlifting Warriors that the residential centre has opened. I am not just wishing you all good luck, but I have faith that a great champion will emerge from here. I have seen a lot of academies in my life... but the way Vijay has run this academy with dedication, and the way they work hard to make it a success. I have never seen that anywhere else," he said, as quoted from a press release by Weightlifting Warriors.

Olympic Silver Medalist Mirabai Chanu, who trains at the academy, expressed her commitment to mentoring the next generation: "The 2036 Olympics is not just a dream for us; it is a commitment for our country. My young athletes, remember that when you train, you take the dreams of 1.4 billion Indians with you."

Chief National Coach Vijay Sharma shared his vision: "The dream I had of an academy has come true today. With Mirabai's training, these kids can learn something and perform well in the next Olympics."

The academy operates under the Khelo India Scheme with support from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Sports Authority of India, Olympic Gold Quest, and the Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWLF).

- ANI

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Reader Comments

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Priya K.
This is such fantastic news! 🇮🇳 With proper infrastructure and training, our weightlifters can compete with the best in the world. Mirabai Chanu's success has already shown what's possible. Hope to see many more champions emerge from this academy!
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Rahul S.
Good initiative but hope they focus on nutrition and mental health too. Just buildings won't make champions. Our athletes need holistic support - physios, psychologists, diet plans. China invests heavily in these areas, we must match that.
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Anjali M.
So proud to see UP getting such world-class facilities! 👏 Earlier our athletes had to go abroad for training. Now with Mirabai didi mentoring young girls, we'll surely see more women champions. Beti bachao, beti uthao!
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Vikram J.
Hope they maintain transparency in athlete selection. Sometimes regional politics affects sports. The best talents from villages should get equal opportunity, not just city kids with connections. That's how we'll find real champions.
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Sunita P.
My daughter is 10 and dreams of being a weightlifter. This gives me hope! But government should also ensure job security for athletes after retirement. Many champions end up struggling financially. Sports should be sustainable career.
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Arjun D.
Great to see private-public partnership in sports! Olympic Gold Quest doing good work. But why only weightlifting? Need similar academies for athletics, swimming etc. China has 3000+ sports schools, we need to scale up across disciplines.

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