Kolkata: 2016 Asian Power Lifting Champion Shampa Guha returned home quietly on Monday without any fanfare and media hype. The 35 year old power lifter from Uttarpara did the nation proud by winning the gold medal in the recently concluded Asian Power Lifting Championship held at Tashkent in Uzbekistan from October 14-21. Shampa’s sister Mou and a handful of her students were at the Howrah station to receive her today. No one from the state power lifting association was present.
“I am used to all these and I don’t expect either. After all in our country it is the cricketers who take all the focus,” said Shampa on her return.
The 16 times national champion had to fight against all the odds to win the championship in 84+ kg category. She faced tough challenges from her opponents from Uzbekistan and Tazakistan.
“The temperature was freezing at 3 degree Celsius. It was very difficult as we are not used to compete in such conditions. The lifters from Uzbekistan and Tazakistan gave me a big challenge.”
It was just another feather in Shampa’s cap. She had earlier won the 2104 World Championships in Las Vegas apart from winning gold thrice at Commonwealth Games. Shampa, who works with Kolkata Police was also declared “Strong Woman of India” few years back.
Asked what her plans are after winning the Asian title, she promptly said, “I would like to meet our Chief Minister as she has been my biggest source of inspiration. I would request her to support the sport as it is very difficult to compete with opponents who get better training facilities.”
Shampa will be taking a break from power lifting for the next few days before she starts preparing for the forthcoming World Championship in November.