Commonwealth Games 2014: Santoshi Matsa moulds herself for a medal

Vizianagaram: By winning a bronze medal at the ongoing Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Vizianagaram’s Santoshi Matsa has proved that lack of modern training facilities back home in Kondavelagada, is no hurdle. The 20-year-old has indeed beaten the odds to clinch the bronze.

Kondavelagada and Kondagupam, two non-descript villages under Nellimarla mandal are known for weightlifters. Valluri Srinivasa Rao of Kondavelagada had made the country proud by winning gold in the 56-kg category at the Asian Games in Beijing in 2010 and later, a silver at the 19th Commonwealth Games in Delhi.

But despite weightlifters from the two villages bringing laurels, the government and sponsors continue to ignore growing talent.

A training centre by one Challa Ramu caters to the needs of at least 20 young weightlifters, who are relying solely on him for the right kind of encouragement and help. And Ramu says he is confident of producing several more talented weightlifters like Santoshi, if the government comes forward with some support.

The shutting down of the state’s only professional weightlifting academy of in Srikakulam, remains a classic example of how access to the right coaching, for weightlifters of Vizianagaram and Srikakulam, still remains a distant dream. Like Santoshi, there are as many as 15 weigh-tlifters in Kondavelagada village who are keen to go professional.

“But lack of support and finance are forcing us to compromise,” says M. Ramakrishna, a promising weighlifter.