Bhubaneswar:  A 14-member Odisha teamincluding one woman, returned home today after winning the team title in the unequipped category and a total of six medals in the 38th the Senior National Powerlifting Championship, which was concluded at Kozhikode in Kerala on September 8. The medals included three gold and as many silver.

Odisha achieved another notable success with Iswar Machhkund emerging `Strongman of India' in the unequipped category. He bagged the gold medal in 66kg weight class, lifting 195kg in squat, 107.5kg in benchpress and 240kg in deadlift for a total of 542.5kg. Other two gold medals were claimed by Sanjay Nayak in 93kg category and Santosh Kumar Barik in 120kg category.

The two silver medals in the unequipped category were pocketed by Shakti Ranjan Barik in 74kg class and Sangita Singh in women’s 84kg class. However, in equipped category, Odisha could win only one bronze medal through Pradeep Patra, who lifted a total of 632.5kg. Odisha Powerlifting Association secretary Chitta Ranjan Swain described the achievement as the best in the Senior National Championship and congratulated the lifters for their success.