Her dream of eight years is soon going to come true. This November, Telangana-based weightlifter, Erra Deexitha, will be representing Osmania University in the upcoming World University Weight Lifting Championship to be held in Mexico in November. The 19-year-old is excited and motivated to attend the world championship. “There were a few financial issues at first, but now everything is fine. I am practicing hard to get a medal for India,” she says.
The trip to Mexico to take part in the competition will cost Deexitha Rs 1,91,300. When she approached her university, she was informed that they were facing a shortage of funds and hence could not provide any support. However, thanks to TRS leader K. Kavitha, Deexitha has finally received Rs 1,50,000 from the Sports Authority of Telangana. With the support of her parents, Deexitha has managed to raise the remaining amount.
Deexitha comes from a humble background in Warangal. Her father works for the State electricity department and her mother is a housewife. In 2006, she began her weightlifting career when she took admission in the state’s sports school. “My uncle helped me get admission here. Since then, I have been onto weightlifting. My coaches S.A. Singh and P. Manikayala Rao are very supportive and have trained me really well,” says the proud sportswoman.
Deexitha is pursuing her B.A. from Nizam College, Hyderabad. She has represented India at various competitions and has won many medals. “I won gold for weightlifting in the 58 kg weight class category, in the 2012 Commonwealth Games and was ranked 6th in the world. In the 2013 Commonwealth Games, I won silver in the same category. In 2014, I came fourth in the Asian Games. I haven’t participated in any competition since the past one year because of an injury,” she says.
In her free time, Deexitha reads books by Swami Vivekanada. They help her concentrate and keep her motivated. The training camp for the World Championship will be organised in Guntur and the participants will leave for Mexico on November 10. The tournament will take place in Merda, Mexico, from November 13 to November 17.
