Jamshedpur's teen strength lifter Gurmeet Singh celebrated a silver Christmas.

At the 23rd National Strength Lifting Championship held at Dalli Rajhara in Chattisgarh on Decemeber 25, 2015, 17-year-old Gurmeet claimed the medal in the 75kg weight category, his first in the national contest held between December 23 and 27, 2015.

"I had worked hard in the run up to the national meet. It paid off. I'll go on working hard and win laurels for my city and state," the ISC student of Jamshedpur Workers' College and Golmuri resident said.

His mentor Ahsan Khalid, a former lifter, said he had advised his ward to switch over to weighlifting for better future in the sport.

"Unlike strength lifting, weightlifting is an Olympic discipline. Gurmeet has scope to better his career prospects if he takes to weightlifting," the coach said.

According to Khalid, Gurmeet attended the selection trials organised by Jharkhand Strength Lifting Association at JRD Tata Sports Complex in November.

"He and five other lifters from Bokaro were part of Jharkhand squad for the national meet," said Khalid, who works in the fitness department of Tata Steel sports wing.

Gurmeet also agreed he would switch over to weightlifting and work under the guidance of his mentor.

"I am into strength lifting for over a year now. I have won medals at state championships but would now like to try my hand at weightlifting," the talented lifter said.