Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (HB/DC)
Udupi, Apr 19: Gururaj, who won first medal on first day of the 21st Commonwealth Games held in Gold Coast Australia recently, was accorded a rousing welcome here in Udupi from the district administration on Thursday April 19.
Deputy commissioner (DC) Priyanka Mary Francis, Shivanand Kapasi as Udupi district Zilla Panchayat (ZP) CEO, ADC Anuradha, Dr Roshan Shetty, assistant director, youth empowerment and sports department Udupi were present. A special vehicle was arranged from Mangaluru airport to Kundapur by district administration.
Gururaj was felicitated by the district administration at the DC's conference hall. Addressing the gathering, Gururaj said, "I won first medal for my country on first day itself for which I am very happy. It is exciting to get such a grand welcome back home from the locals and officials from various departments including the district administration."
“Everybody has supported me a lot in this journey. I wish that more rural talents get support and win medals in the upcoming Commonwealth Games. My next aim is to participate in the Asian Games and also win a medal in 2020 Olympics,” he added.
Addressing the gathering the DC said, "This is a proud moment for all of us. Gururaj is a role model for all the children and sport persons in Udupi district. Despite facing hardships he has fought them to fulfil him dream. I wish him more success,"
While CEO Shivanand also called upon children to consider him as their role model and achieve in the field of sports.
He is getting trained at Patiala training centre in Punjab since 2015 under Vijay Sharma where athletes from all over India get training.
His father Mahabala Poojary, trainers’ Sukesh Shetty and Rajendra Kumar were present.
Weightlifter P Gururaja from Kundapur had won first medal for India on first day of the 21st Commonwealth Games held in Gold Coast in Australia on April 4. Gururaj claimed silver in the men's 56kg category. The 25-year-old weightlifter from Kundapur equalled his personal best of 249kg to finish second where Muhammad Izhar Ahmed from Malaysia who is a three-time medallist in the Commonwealth Championships won gold. The third position was taken by Sri Lanka's Lakmal Chaturanga (114+134).