India’s rising stars in weightlifting have made a promising start at the 2025 IWF World Youth and Junior Championships in Lima, Peru, collecting three bronze medals in the early events of the competition.
The standout performer was 17-year-old Parv Chaudhary, who delivered a national-record-breaking performance in the highly competitive Men’s 96kg (Youth) category.
Bronze and Two National Records for Parv Chaudhary
Facing a formidable lineup in the M96 Youth division, Parv Chaudhary held his nerve on the big stage to register a total lift of 315kg, clinching the bronze medal.
His performance included a snatch of 140kg and a clean and jerk of 175kg, the latter being a new Indian youth national record. He also improved his total lift national record by 4kg.
Parv’s snatch fell just 1kg short of his personal best and the national record of 141kg, which he had previously set.
That single kilogram proved decisive, as Turkmenistan’s Ysiam Akmyradov lifted 141kg in the snatch, ultimately edging out Parv for silver with a total of 316kg.
The gold was claimed by Armenia’s Grigor Ghazaryan, who looked dominant with lifts of 145kg in snatch and 185kg in clean and jerk for a total of 330kg.
Despite narrowly missing silver, Parv’s performance demonstrated significant progress and poise under pressure. His 175kg clean and jerk was not only the best among Indian youth lifters in history but also placed him right among the elite in this weight class globally.
Jyoshna Sabar Opened Medal Tally in W40kg
India’s medal run began in the first medal event of the championships—the Women’s 40kg (Youth) category. Jyoshna Sabar, just 16, lifted a total of 128kg (56kg snatch + 72kg clean and jerk) to finish third overall.
She also secured a silver medal in clean and jerk, showing excellent technique and rhythm in her lifts.
Brazil’s Isanelly da Silva was the headline act of the event, taking gold with a world youth record clean and jerk of 77kg, contributing to her total of 134kg. The Philippines’ Althea Bacaro earned silver with 130kg.
Jyoshna’s consistency and ability to challenge lifters from powerhouse nations mark her as a prospect to watch in the coming years, especially with her ability to deliver strong clean and jerk performances under pressure.
Harsabardhan Sahu Delivered Bronze in M49kg
India’s third medal of the championships came in the Men’s 49kg (Youth) event, where Harsabardhan Sahu put up a gritty performance to secure bronze with a total of 197kg (87kg snatch + 110kg clean and jerk).
The gold medal was taken by the Philippines’ Jay Colonia, whose total of 215kg was built on an impressive 121kg clean and jerk. Italy’s Christian Di Maria claimed silver with 214kg.
Interestingly, while Di Maria had a 5kg advantage over Colonia in the snatch (99kg vs. 94kg), the Filipino’s explosive clean and jerk proved decisive, winning by just 1kg in the total—a razor-thin margin in international weightlifting.
Sahu also added a bronze in clean and jerk, reinforcing his standing as one of the top youth lifters in Asia in this category. His performance suggests that with a few more kilos in snatch, he can soon contend for higher honors.
These early results reflect the growing depth in Indian youth weightlifting. All three Indian medalists—Parv, Jyoshna, and Harsabardhan—have not only earned podium finishes but also demonstrated technical consistency, competitive temperament, and the ability to challenge traditional powerhouses like Armenia, Brazil, and the Philippines.
Importantly, the IWF Youth and Junior World Championships award medals in all three categories—snatch, clean and jerk, and total—unlike the Olympic Games which count only the total.
This provides lifters with additional opportunities to be recognized for their strengths in individual lifts, a structure that India’s youth lifters are beginning to capitalize on.
As the championships progress, India will hope to build on this momentum. The early medal haul already ensures that the tricolor has made a mark in Lima, and with senior lifters like Jeremy Lalrinnunga and Bindyarani Devi having come up through similar age-group championships, the performances of Parv, Jyoshna, and Sahu are promising indicators of India’s future in the sport.
