Fighting all odds, Sanju Harold wins 4 bronze medals for India at Special Olympics in Romania
Competing in the Men's 59kg category during the event held from November 10 to 16, Sanju secured bronze medals in the Squat, Bench Press, and Deadlift events, as well as a bronze in the Overall (Total) category. Overall Sanju won 4 medals representing India.
Thiruvananthapuram: Fighting all odds and challenges in life, Sanju Harold, a 25-year-old Keralite from Thiruvananthapuram, has won four bronze medals representing India at the IPF Special Olympics World Open Equipped Powerlifting Championship held in Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
Competing in the Men's 59kg category during the event held from November 10 to 16, Sanju secured bronze medals in the Squat, Bench Press, and Deadlift events, as well as a bronze in the Overall (Total) category. Overall Sanju won 4 medals representing India.
Sanju, was born with Down syndrome and is been a multitalented youngster who has already won numerous gold medals in roller- skating in various national-level championship’s across the country.
"Sanju has been training for skating for the past 15 years. He was interested in the sport from a very small age. He is a person who never gives up. He is been a fighter for any job that he has taken up. His family and friends were all so happy and delighted to see him winning the championship by securing 4 bronze medal for the country”, said Shaan Harold, brother of Sanju to News9.
"It was earlier this year that he came across the power lifting national-level championship that was held in Bangalore. He took part in it and won gold. It was from here that he was selected for the international level”, Shaan added.
Sanju is currently a student at SIMC Pangappara, and trains at the Dungeon lifting club in Akkulam.
Earlier achievements
* RSFI National Roller Skating Championship held at Bangalore- Bronze medal winner.
* Down Syndrome National Games held at Hyderabad – Skating – 1 gold and 1 bronze
* Special Olympics bharat national championship held at Haryana – skating – 2 silver medals
* National roller skating Championship held at Kochi – 2 gold medals
He has won a total of 7 national medals in Roller Skating and is going to participate in the RSFI Roller Skating Nationals to be held at Andra pradesh.
Sanju had won gold medal in the National Equipped Powerlifting Championship held in Karnataka.
"Sanju was able to participate in the International Championship held in Europe and win the bronze medal because of this”, Shaan Harold.
After being selected for the Asian open equipped powerlifting championship to be held at turkey from December 10, Sanju is currently undergoing training for the event.
Apart from sports, he is active in dance and has participated in various competitions. He actively takes part in fashion shows too. He has also acted in a movie 'Anchu Centum Seleenayum' directed by Jexson Antony which is set to be released soon.