Odisha weightlifter Pradip Sahu at the National Weightlifting Championship, 2011, at Berhampur Stadium on Saturday. Picture by Gopal Krishna Reddy

Berhampur, Dec. 24: A glittering ceremony marked the inauguration of National Weightlifting Championship-2011 at the Berhampur stadium here today.

Local MLA Ramesh Chandra Chau Patnaik declared the five-day championship open even as weightlifters from 28 participating states, Union territories and sports boards took part in a march past. As many as 222 weightlifters, including 85 women, would be vying for medals over the next five days. The championship happens to be the 64th for men and 27th for women at the senior national level.

Odisha is being represented by 14 lifters in different categories. However, conspicuous by her absence is Pramila Kisan of the Sports Hostel, Bhubaneswar, as she is suffering from dysentery, according to coach Chandra Sekhar Sahu.

Birendra Prasad Baisya, president of the Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWF), expressed happiness over the arrangements for the championship. “Frankly speaking, Odisha, and especially Berhampur, has made a good contribution to weightlifting in India. Weightlifters from the state did very well in the Commonwealth Games.”

Lavishing praise on Ravi Kumar, a Berhampur resident who created a new record at the last Commonwealth Games and did well in the Asian Games, he said Odisha had a lot of potential and would produce more champion weightlifters.

“I am very happy with the Odisha Weightlifting Association for conducting this championship in such a grand manner. I hope everybody is satisfied with the arrangements,” said Baisya even as he congratulated Narayan Sahu, organising secretary, Odisha Weightlifting Association, who has produced many good lifters.

Baisya also referred to constraints in the way of developing the sport. “Private sponsorship is very important. Weightlifting is a game where getting sponsorship is very difficult. It is not like cricket. But Odisha has a very good image in the field of weightlifting. Odisha has done wonderful job in the area. I hope private sponsors will come up to encourage the players of Odisha,” he said.

He also expressed hope that Ravi would clinch a medal at the 2012 London Olympics. “Ravi had sustained injury in his shoulder during the qualifying rounds for the next Olympic Games a few days ago at Paris. Though doctors have advised him complete rest till two months, we have decided to send him abroad for better treatment,” president of the IWF said.

Ravi Kumar told The Telegraph that the championship would do a lot of good to budding lifters. “There will be ample scope for the junior lifters,” Kumar, who was present at the opening ceremony, said.