3-member family from Kozhikode to represent India in World Powerlifting Championship

Kozhikode: A family in Kozhikode has qualified for the World Powerlifting Championships in Sweden. The three-member family will represent India in various categories. K. Kochumol and her husband C V Abdu Salim will be contesting in the master category, and their daughter C Ayesha Begum will compete in the sub-junior category.  Abdu Salim's disciple Pragati P Nair is also in the competition. The event will take place from September 23 to October 3.

Through the years, the family has already made significant strides nationally. Kochumol, a staff nurse at Kottaparambu Hospital, in Calicut had won silver at the 1998 National Powerlifting Championships. Together, the family also won a competition held at Idukki in 2019. When Abdu Salim and his daughter won silver, Kochumol managed to bag gold.  

In 2021, Ayesha won bronze in the National Sub-Junior Championships held in Uttar Pradesh. Ayesha started training with her father, a gym trainer when she was in class 8. Ayesha is currently a Plus Two Science student of GVHSS in Kuttichira.  

While they are happy to be able to participate in the World Championships, they are also worried about how to find the expenses to go to Sweden. It will cost around Rs 1.95 lakh per person. Of this, Rs 95,000 has to be paid by August 10. In total, it will cost around Rs 6 lakh for three people. The family hopes to find a sponsor before the date of the event.

Powerlifting India has also stated that the family will not receive this amount as a government grant. Powerlifting requires special attention including food and the bodyweight must be maintained accurately. But this will be very expensive and they are confused how to find the amount.