By Sports Correspondent | Tripura 24.in
AGARTALA | June 1, 2026
AGARTALA: In a historic moment that has sent waves of immense pride across the state’s sporting community, a young powerlifter from a humble background, Abhijit Dey, has brought absolute glory to Tripura. Competing on the national stage, Abhijit did not just secure a top podium finish; he shattered a nearly four-decade-old regional jinx by smashing an all-India national record.
The historic feat was achieved at the highly competitive National Sub-Junior and Junior Powerlifting Championship, which concluded recently in Amalapuram, Andhra Pradesh.
Abhijit, a first-year undergraduate student at Agartala’s prestigious Bir Bikram Memorial (BBM) College, resides in the Jogendranagar Adarsha Colony area. His monumental victory has triggered widespread celebrations in his neighborhood, bringing immense tears of joy to his proud parents, who have battled severe financial hardships to support their son’s athletic dreams.
A Record-Breaking Lift: Rewriting the History Books
Abhijit entered the competitive arena under the Junior Men’s 53 kg weight category, facing off against top-tier powerlifters representing various states and sports boards across the country.
The Statistics of the Historic Triumph:
- The Weight Division: 53 kg Junior Men’s Category.
- The Gold Standard: Clinched the ultimate Gold Medal by outperforming his competitors across all three primary tracking segments (Squat, Bench Press, and Deadlift).
- The National Record: Set an unparalleled, new national record by cleanly lifting a massive 175 kg.
- Ending the 40-Year Drought: This marks the first time in nearly 40 years that a powerlifter from Tripura has managed to secure an all-India national record in this specific age-and-weight bracket.
“His Hard Work Has Defeated Our Poverty”: Overjoyed Parents
News of the gold medal and the national record reached Jogendranagar late in the evening, instantly turning Abhijit’s modest household into a celebratory hub. Neighbors and local sports organizers rushed to his residence to congratulate his parents with sweets and traditional abir (colored powder).
”We have faced immense financial struggles to keep the kitchen fire burning, let alone funding the high-protein diet and specialized training equipment required for a competitive powerlifter. There were days when we worried about how to arrange his travel expenses for outstation tournaments. But Abhijit never complained. He would spend hours practicing with absolute focus.
Today, seeing our boy’s name trending at the top of the national charts has made every single drop of sweat worth it. He has proved that poverty cannot stop you if you have real dedication. He has made his family and the entire state of Tripura incredibly proud,” Abhijit Dey’s emotional parents shared with reporters.
Sports Fraternity Demands Institutional Financial Support
Following his national dominance, top executives from the Tripura Powerlifting Association along with faculty members of BBM College extended their formal felicitations to the young champion.
With Abhijit proving his technical excellence on the national floor, local sports analysts have strongly urged the State Youth Affairs and Sports Department to immediately sanction a specialized monthly sports stipend and provide him with an official state-sponsored training coach to prepare him for upcoming international Asian and World Championship selections.
