Weightlifter ravi kumar with his team members at the commonwealth games in Glasgow. telegraph picturessunil patnaik

Berhampur, July 24: Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games (CWG) gold medallist 27-year-old K. Ravi Kumar aimed to create a new record in the 77-kg category at the Glasgow CWG which started on July 23.

“I am quite confident to bag at least a gold medal in the 77-kg category. I will make my nation and the state proud,” Ravi told The Telegraph over telephone from Glasgow today.

Ravi had broken the CWG record in Delhi in 2010 by lifting 321kg (146kg in snatch and 175kg in clean and jerk) in the men’s 69-kg category.

Ravi, the flag-bearer in the men’s section, had gone through training in Birmingham for the past one month to get acclimatised to weather conditions in Glasgow even before the selection panel finalised the Indian squad.

Later, Ravi qualified for the Glasgow CWG in the 77-kg category at the CWG and Asian Games selection trials at NIS Patiala. “I have been taking part in the practice session at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre precinct since the past 10 days for three to five hours every day in one session and everything is fine here,” he said.

“I may face a strong challenge from my teammate S. Satish Kumar and a contestant from Malaysia in the 77-kg category. I was in the 69-kg category during the Delhi 2010 CWG. But now, I consider the 77-kg category at the Glasgow CWG as a great challenge, and I will definitely create a new record in this category,” he said.

Ravi Kumar’s event starts on July 27 at 12 midnight in the Indian Standard Time (IST).

Replying to a question about the earlier injury on his left shoulder, Ravi said he was not at all worried about it. “I am completely fit now,” he said.

K. Suryakanta, mother of the lifter, said she was performing puja everyday for his son’s success. “I pray to God everyday for his performance. I am in touch with my son over telephone. His health condition is fine. He has not visited home since November 20 last year when we moved into our new house,” Suryakanta said.

“He is a son of the soil. We are proud for his achievements and wish him success at the Glasgow CWG,” said Ramesh Padhi of the Veer Hanuman Club.