Gururaja Poojary is a famous Indian weightlifter. He made headlines in 2018 when he won a silver medal in the men’s 56kg category at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia. In 2022, he came into the spotlight after winning a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England.
Gururaja Poojary after winning bronze medal at Commonwealth Games 2022
Wiki/Biography
Gururaja Poojary was born on Saturday, August 15, 1992 in Vandse, Karnataka, India (30 years old as of 2022). His zodiac sign is Leo. He completed his primary education from Vandse Government Higher Primary School, Kundapur Taluk and his higher secondary education from Mookambika Higher Secondary School, Kollur. As a student, he was thin and short, but he was always fearless in competing with school bullies. This spirit of Pujari convinced his physical education teacher Sukesh Shetty to influence Pujari to take up wrestling. Soon, since his parents didn’t buy him a mat, he started wrestling on dirt and clay. He practices as per the ‘gatta gusti’ culture in South Kanara and Kull districts of Karnataka and North Malabar in Kerala. Later, he joined Sri Dharmastala Manjunatheshwara (SDM) College in Ujjar for postgraduate studies. In college, he began looking for wrestling coaches to train for professional wrestling. Meanwhile, he joined a gym after college, where he became friends with some famous weightlifters. Soon, he started seeing these weightlifters regularly. In 2010, he started weightlifting under the guidance of Rajendra Prasad. He later represented the university in weightlifting championships. In a media chat, Gururaja Poojary said that he switched his interest from wrestling to weightlifting during his college years. He said,
I started going to the gym where I met a few weightlifters. I soon started hanging out with them and started lifting weights on my own. “
For P Gururaja, who started out as a wrestler before switching to powerlifting and then weightlifting, it was a steady climb rather than a spectacular one
appearance
Height (approximately): 5′1″
Weight (approximately): 56kg
Hair color: black
Eye color: black
family
Parents and siblings
His father’s name is Mahabala Poojari and he is a truck driver. His mother’s name is Paddu Poojari and she is a housewife. He has five brothers namely Rajesh Poojary, Manohar Poojary, Mohan Poojary, Ravirajand Poojary and Uday Poojary. All his brothers are kabaddi players.
Rajesh, Manohar, Mahabala (Gururaja’s father), Padhu Poojarthi (his mother), Mohan, Raviraj and Uday Poojary
wife
He is not married yet.
Profession
indian air force
In 2015, Gururaja Poojary started serving as a pilot in the Indian Air Force. In a media conversation, he said that he wanted to join the Indian Army, but height issues forced him to join the Indian Air Force.
weightlifting
In 2015, Gururaja Poojary participated in the National Weightlifting Championships in Jalandhar and won a silver medal and All-India University Championship. He subsequently participated in the 56 kg heavyweight category at the Senior Weightlifting Championships in Jaipur (Rajasthan) and won a silver medal in 2015. In the same year, he participated in the Senior Weightlifting Championships held in Patiala (Punjab) and won a silver medal in the 56 kg category. Bronze medal in 56kg category. He started participating in the National Senior Championships in 2016 and won a gold medal in the national weightlifting competition held in Tamil Nadu. Subsequently, he participated in the 2016 Commonwealth Senior Weightlifting Championships in Penang, Malaysia, and won the gold medal with a personal best of 249 kg (108+141). In the same year, he participated in the South Asian Games held in Guwahati and won the gold medal in the 56kg category.
Gururaj Poojary after winning gold in 2016
In 2017, he participated in the Commonwealth Championships in Australia and won a bronze medal. In 2018, he participated in the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, and won the silver medal in the men’s 56kg category.
Gururaja Poojary after winning silver medal in 2018
medal
Commonwealth Games
- 2018 Gold Coast 56kg Silver Medal
- 2022 Birmingham 61kg Bronze Medal
Commonwealth Championship
- 2016 Penang 56kg gold medal
- 2021 Tashkent 61kg Silver Medal
- 2017 Gold Coast 56kg Bronze Medal
Facts/Trivia
- Gururaja Poojary said he took up wrestling in 2008 after being inspired by Indian wrestler Sushil Kumar after the latter won a gold medal at the 2008 Olympics .
- Speaking to the media, his coach Rajendra Prasad revealed that in 1999, Gururaja Poojary set his own record with 193 kg (total lift in snatch and knee jerk) and broke it in 2012 own record. He went on to say that Gururaja Poojary improved his weightlifting level in 2015 to reach 125 kg.
- Shortly after winning the gold medal at the 2016 Commonwealth Adult Weightlifting Championships, he told the media in an interview that after winning the gold medal, his family’s living standards had improved. He said,
When I started lifting weights in 2010, things were difficult at home. I needed money for food and supplements, but my father couldn’t support me. We are a family of eight. Things are much better now. “
- After winning the gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in 2018, he was awarded the highest sports award ‘Ekalavya’ by the Karnataka government.
- In a media interview, Pujari revealed that he was a punctual student during his college days and attended regular classes regularly. He added that when he graduated, he was inspired by Indian weightlifter Vikal Thakur, who won a silver medal for the country at the Commonwealth Games. He went on to say that at that time he was hoping to win a medal for India. He said,
Then Vikas Thakur won a medal at the last Commonwealth Games and I was inspired. Even I want to win a medal. “
Gururaj Poojary honored by Karnataka government officials
- Gururaja Poojary and his five brothers spent their childhood in poverty. In a media interview, his mother said her family’s financial situation improved only when her sons started winning medals for the country. She added that it was all because of the hard work of her sons. she says,
Poverty is something we live with throughout our lives. If we were a little better off financially, or had the necessary support and encouragement, maybe all of my sons could make our country proud. “
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education