Upendra Kumar. Telegraph picture

Purnea, Feb. 3: Hailed as the champion of champions in power-lifting, Upendra Kumar (30) secured his first job in the department of posts and telegraph two years ago. But his job of a postal assistant in Purnea post office has turned into a nightmare.

The department that recruited him under the sports category, is not giving him time for practice.

“The rule mandates that out of my daily work schedule, I must be given two hours to practise. That was not followed. So I had to utilise my earned leave to take part in a recent competition,” said Upendra, a national champion.

Upendra won a gold medal in the National Dead-lift Power-lift Championship held at Salem in Tamil Nadu between January 20 and 23 this year. The Indian Power-lifting Federation, which is recognised by the ministry of youth affairs and sports, International and Asian Power-lifting Federation and Indian Olympic Association, had organised this sporting event.

Hailing from a middle-class family, Upendra clinched the national champion’s crown on two previous occasions too — in Cooch Behar, Bengal, and in Patna. However, he has been the champion of champions (Strong Man of India) at the state-level 11 times.

Neither does Purnea have a proper gym nor can Upendra afford to build his own gym that could help him train up for competitions.

Therefore, Upendra is forced to go to Katihar once a week for practice. He expects to bag a gold again if he gets a chance in the Olympics and the Commonwealth Games with the co-operation of the department and the state government.

“I am proud of him (Upendra) and I will co-operate with him in every respect He will be given leave whenever he wants either for practice or to take part in any championship,” B.C. Singh, the postal superintendent of Purnea, told The Telegraph.

“I will write to the government for financial assistance so that Upendra can prepare for the next Olympics,” Ashok Mehta, the secretary of Bihar Power-lifting Association, Patna told The Telegraph.