FULL NAME: Pandi Dharma Rao
GENDER: Male
BORN: 24th March, 1970
HOME ADDRESS: Ganesh Street, Chatrapur, Ganjam, Odisha, India
PRESENT ADDRESS: Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
PARENTS: Father (P Appa Rao), Mother (Draupadi Debi)
ACADEMIC EDUCATION: Arts Graduate with Honours
TECHNICAL EDUCATION:
*     Diploma in Coaching (Weightlifting) from Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports (NS NIS), Patiala, 1993.
*     Completed 3-month-long certificate course in Sports Management at XEBS-Ahluwalia Centre of Excellence, Bhubaneswar, 2020.
*     Completed Cat-II National Referee Course in Weightlifing from Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWF).
ROLE IN SPORT: Coach (Weightlifting and Powerlifting)
PROFESSION: Serving as Weightlifting Coach in the Department of Sports & Youth Services since 1996. Now posted at Sports Hostel, Bhubaneswar. He is supposed to retire on 31st March, 2030.

MAJOR ACHIEVEMNETS AS WEIGHTLIFTING COACH:
*     His pupils have bagged 12 International (5 gold, 3 silver, 4 bronze), 70 National (21 gold, 21 silver, 29 bronze) and 63 State (43 gold, 14 silver, 6 bronze) level medals till date.
*     Among his pupils, Arun Santa created New National Record, while Pramila Krisani, Elimpha Jena, Arjun Sahu, Anup Deo Toppo, Ramesh Majhi and Harish Chandra Pradhani have established New State Records.
*     His other successful puplils include national and international medalists Jhilli Dalabehera and Subhasmita Mohanty.
*     He was coach of the Odisha women squad that emerged overall runners-up at the Senior National Weightlifting Championship in Bangalore either in 1996 or in 1999.
*     Created the foundation for weightlifting in Koraput and Kalahandi.

OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
*     Received the Biju Patnaik Award for `Excellence in Coaching’ and a cheque of Rs 1 lakh from Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on the National Sports Day in Bhubaneswar on August 29, 2016.
*     Also imparted coaching in powerlifting and helped powerlifters win 21 gold medals in state level competitions.
*     Among his powerlifting students, Pratima Gohir and Nayak Miniaka bagged Strongwoman and Strongman title respectively in 2001.
*     Started his sports career as a bodybuilder and won state-level honours before switching over to weightlifting.
*     As weightlifter, represented Odisha in National championships.

PROFILE FIRST UPLOADED: 1 September, 2016
PROFILE LAST UPDATED: 13 April, 2021