Sports and Youths Services Department (DSYS), Government of Odisha, in association with the Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWLF) organised a three-day Technical Official Refresher Course (National Category 2 & Category 1) and IWLF Level 1 Certification Introductory Course from 12 to 14 September at Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar.

The training program was led by Dronacharya Awardee coach, Pal Singh Sandhu and Senior Technical Official of IWLF Kumbasi Subramanya. A total of 22 coaches from Odisha participated in the course which aims to increase the number of qualified technical officials in Odisha who could represent the state at national and international competitions.

According to coach Sandhu, this course would help to identify the potential of the participants to be a referee. An exam has been conducted and based on merit they will be considered qualified for National Category 2 and Category 1 referees.

“The qualified referees in the National 1 category will be eligible to be a referee in national and state level championship, while those qualified in national 2 category can conduct championships at the district level. This way, in the long run would help to promote weightlifting in Odisha,” said Sandhu.

Subramanya said, “The course would be beneficial to improve the weightlifting scenario in Odisha. We have conducted an examination that has been recognised by IWLF. The qualified participants would be technical officials.”

Padmini Padhi, one of the participants from Berhampur said, “This refresher course helped us a lot to learn different parameters of judging a weightlifting event. We learned various rules and regulations, which would benefit us during the competitions.”

Dharma Rao, Weightlifting coach for girls at the Sports Hostel who also participated in the training program shared, “This could help coaches from Odisha to participate as a referee in different categories of national and international competitions.”

Stating that such a course would motivate senior players, Ranu Mohanty, former national weightlifter said, “Such training courses would help all the senior weightlifters to come back to the weightlifting arena as a referee or coach.”
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PHOTO: Weightlifting coaches of Odisha attending Technical Official Refresher Course in Bhubaneswar.