Keyaa Banerji Celebrates Silver Medal at World Junior Powerlifting Championship
Keyaa Banerji's Remarkable Achievement
Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) - Indian powerlifter Keyaa Banerji has hailed her silver medal at the World Junior Championship as an "incredible" milestone, expressing pride in her performance while setting her sights on winning a gold medal for India in the future.
Banerji showcased her exceptional skills at the 2026 IPF World Sub-Junior and Junior Classic Powerlifting Championships held in Sun City, South Africa, competing in the Junior Women’s 47kg category.
A highlight of her campaign was her impressive 140kg deadlift, which surpassed three times her body weight. Weighing in at just 45.70kg, this lift became a standout moment of the championship, garnering significant attention on social media.
Her consistent progress is evident; at the 2025 National Championship, she lifted 82.5kg in the squat, 47.5kg in the bench press, and 127.5kg in the deadlift, totaling 257.5kg. She further improved her performance at the 2025 National Championship, achieving 95kg in the squat, 52.5kg in the bench press, and 140kg in the deadlift, culminating in an overall total of 287.5kg.
In an interview, the 21-year-old expressed her feelings of being overwhelmed by the attention her achievement received but emphasized her focus on celebrating her hard work over the years.
"Initially, it feels great. Once it went viral on social media, I felt a bit overwhelmed. While there was some negative feedback, I prefer not to dwell on that. I am incredibly proud and happy with what I have accomplished after two years of dedication," Keyaa stated.
She noted that participating in the World Championship was a significant milestone, and winning the silver medal was an unexpected delight.
"I didn’t anticipate winning a silver medal. Just being part of the World Championship was fulfilling because powerlifting is a long-term commitment. I aspire to win a World Championship and bring home a gold medal for my country," she added.
Keyaa initially aimed to gain experience at the global event, but her performance exceeded her expectations, resulting in a memorable outcome.
"I thought of this World Championship as an opportunity for experience. The fact that I achieved such a good result and won a medal is absolutely incredible," she remarked.
Discussing her crucial 140kg deadlift that secured her podium finish, Keyaa explained the difference between competition lifts and training numbers, noting that the lift was below the target set with her coach.
"The numbers on competition day differ from training. Competing as an athlete is a different experience than training. In powerlifting, we aim for maximum lifts during competitions," she explained.
"Although my result led to a silver medal, the plan my coach and I devised had 140kg on the lower end of our target for that day," she added.
Keyaa revealed that she had lifted heavier weights in training and aimed to challenge the Asian record during the championship.
"In training, I have successfully lifted around 147.5kg and 150kg multiple times. 147.5kg is the Asian record. Ideally, I would have liked to break that record on stage. I felt a bit disheartened not being able to achieve that," she shared.
After completing the 140kg lift, she attempted a larger jump but was unsuccessful.
"The 140kg lift was my second deadlift, not my third. It felt slower than expected compared to my training. I then attempted a smaller jump of 142.5kg but failed that lift. It wasn’t the ideal day, but things turned out well," she concluded.
Reflecting on her podium finish, Keyaa expressed how special it was to share the stage with athletes she admired.
"I can’t put it into words; I am overwhelmed. I was thrilled just to be there. Competing at the World Championship alongside competitors I looked up to was an unreal experience," she concluded.