D Suganthi, a bachelor of physical education student from Pondicherry University community college, set an Asian record in the Asian Power lifting Championship held from December 5 to 9 at Kobe City in Japan .
She lifted 145 kg in the squat event, 57 kg category and won the gold medal in the process setting an Asian record. In the bench press category she lifted 65 kg to win the silver medal and in the dead lift she lifted 130 kg to win the bronze medal.
The championship was organised by the Asian Power lifting federation, where participants from 20 countries participated. From India 57 power lifters participated including Suganthi, the lone representative from Puducherry.
Suganthi had earlier represented Puducherry in South Zone Power Lifting championship held at Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh.
Suganthi's success has come the hard way.
The daughter of a dairy helper in Ponlait, her parents not only encouraged her when she showed interest in the sport during her school years, they supported her during the coaching and bore the travel and accommodation expenses for the international championship.
They spent more than a lakh, with no sponsorship coming from government or any other agencies.
Her story is praiseworthy since most parents would have been inclined to save the money for a girl's wedding rather than spending it on sports.