Khelo India: Arunachal Pradesh's Golom Tinku bags first gold for state in weightlifting

GUWAHATI: 13-year-old weightlifter Golom Tinku won the first gold for the state of Arunachal Pradesh at the ongoing Khelo India Games in Guwahati.

The weightlifter won gold in Under-17, 55kg weightlifting competition at Bhogeswari Phukanani Indoor Stadium in Guwahati.

Tinku broke the 55kg Junior National record for the clean and jerk in Bihar recently.

Tinku comes from a farming family in Arunachal.

“My sister used to do karate there, and my elder brother played badminton so started accompanying them just to watch. One day one of the coaches asked me if I wanted to try weightlifting,” he said.

Tinku emerged as a success story as he was soon winning competitions and breaking records.

Tinku whose father had passed away has received support from his brother, according to media reports.

“My brother used to play sport too. He was a badminton player,” Golom said. “After my father passed, to help support the family, and moreover to help me, he quit the sport and instead took up a job in Hyderabad. He coaches badminton there.”

Tinku is based out of Secunderabad in Hyderabad.

In 2016, he was recruited by the Army Sports company.

Around 6,800 athletes are expected to participate in the third edition of the Khelo India Youth Games. The athletes will take part in a total of 20 sports with lawn ball and cycling being new additions to the Games. The opening ceremony took place at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in Guwahati.

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