Indian weightlifter Jagadish Vishwakarma delivered a stunning performance at the ongoing National Games, lifting a total of 345 kg to clinch the Gold medal. However, the eye-catching moment during his win was his Nataraja pose on a single leg after lifting 193 kg. Jagadish amazed the spectators with his unique celebration.
Notably, this wasn’t the first time he performed the Nataraja pose. He had previously done the same in December 2024 at the National Championships, where he set a new national record in the clean-and-jerk category.
While Jagadish impressed the audience with his unique style, Vaishnav Shahji of Maharashtra made headlines by setting a new national record in snatch, lifting 160 kg and surpassing his own previous record. Haryana’s Harshit Sehrawat (329kg) took the bronze.
Jagadish, while acknowledging the loss of his record, praised Vaishnav, stating, “I always tell the youngsters, don’t focus on medals, focus on breaking records. Vaishnav did that today, but I am not done yet, this has fired me up even more."
About National Games
Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared the National Games 2025 open last Tuesday. During his address, he stressed his commitment to bringing the 2036 Olympics to India.
The National Games feature over 10,000 athletes competing across 32 disciplines, with the tournament running until February 14. Events are being held in seven cities across Uttarakhand, with Dehradun serving as the main venue. Athletes will compete for a total of 450 gold, silver, and bronze medals throughout the competition.
In the medal tally, Services lead the standings with 33 medals, including 17 gold. Karnataka follows in second place with 33 medals, featuring 15 gold. Although Maharashtra has won 51 medals, their 13 gold medals place them in third position.
