Athlete-turned-weightlifter Rima Bhoi bagged one bronze medal for Odisha in 59kg junior category on the third day of the Khelo India Women National Ranking Weightlifting Tournament (Phase-2) at Modinagar, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh today.

An inmate of Bhubaneswar-based Odisha Weightlifting High Performance Centre, Rima finished third, lifting 75kg in snatch and 100kg in clean & jerk for a total of 175kg. Rima started her sports career as an athlete and won a number of State championship medals in sprint events (100m, 200m, 400m), representing Sports Hostels.

Rima, who hails from Bargarh district, switched over to weightlifting after being chosen by coach Kazem Panjavi during a talent scouting programme. She has been part of the Odisha Weightlifting HPC since February 2021. Before joining the Weightlifting HPC, Rima trained at Odisha Reliance Foundation Athletics High Performance Centre, Bhubaneswar for a short period.

The bronze by Rima was the fourth medal for Odisha in the ongoing tournament. Earlier, Odisha lifters claimed three silver medals in the first two days. They were: Jyoshna Sabar (40kg youth category), Sneha Soren (49kg senior category) and Mina Santa (55kg youth category). The tournament will conclude on November 2.
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PHOTO: Odisha lifter Rima Bhoi poses with her bronze medal in the Khelo India Women National Ranking Weightlifting Tournament (Phase-2) at Modinagar, Ghaziabad on 30 October 2022.