Khelo India Youth Games: From weight loss to Olympic gold, how KIYG medalist Chelsi is adjusting her goals

Chelsi's first international appearance was at the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships in Noida in 2023, where she won silver. She also ranked 5th at the 2023 Asian Youth Championships.

Chennai: Her intention was to just lose a few pounds at the gym, but that's when the weight lifting happened. And now Chelsi is prioritizing the sport even more than her family. Chelsi from Delhi is one of the few international achievers who were in the limelight at the Khelo India Youth Games in Tamil Nadu. She won the gold in the Youth Women's 71kg category in Chennai with a total weight of 184kg (81kg Snatch, 103kg Clean and Jerk).

This is her second medal at the Khelo India Youth Games, having previously won bronze at the KIYG Bhopal last year. “I can't explain this feeling of winning gold. This will motivate me to continue and I now have to win gold for the country at the Olympics. Mirabai Chanu didi won silver, Karnam Malleswari madam won bronze and I now want to win and get gold,” Chelsi said.

17-year-old Chelsi started lifting weights just a few years ago, purely on the recommendation of her gym trainer. “I have achieved a lot in two years and I don't want to stop,” she continued. “Two years ago, I went to a gym in my hometown for six months to lose some extra body weight. My trainer Vivek bhaiya then asked me to take up weightlifting, saying that the sport had a lot of prospects from India.

“If Vivek bhaiya had not recommended that, I would not have taken up weightlifting. Since that day, I can't see beyond lifting. I give more priority to the sport than to my family. I have not met them for almost a year due to my continuous training regime, but I keep reminding myself that I am doing it for India,” Chelsi added.

Chelsi made her first international appearance at the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships in Noida in 2023, where she took silver. She also competed at the 2023 Asian Youth Championships where she placed 5th.

After her foray into weightlifting, the Bawana girl has set out on a challenging journey to achieve her goal. “I used to travel 2 hours from my home to JLN Stadium in Delhi and the return journey also took me another 2 hours. For a whole year, this was the routine for me from noon to 9 p.m.,” she said.

“Then I went to Karnam Malleswari foundation in Yamuna Nagar where I trained under Naveen sir and Karnam ma'am. I also trained at the SAI NCOE Patiala last year during a four-month national camp. Ms. Karnam's words are so motivating and she keeps pushing me to bring gold for the country in the Olympics.

Now that the gold medal has been achieved at the Khelo India Games, Chelsi, who strictly avoids social media, is looking ahead with determination. “I start training the next day. No rest and no pain, no gain,” she chuckles. “I have to train twice a day and just aim for the gold. I am lucky that my parents supported me and I promise you will see me at the Olympics.”