Ask her about her achievements and Gokilavani is modesty personified. She even
goes on to the explain the sport in detail to those who are unaware of
it.
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"The difference between weightlifting and powerlifting is that in the
latter we do not lift the weights above our head," she explains.
"In weightlifting there is snatch, clean and jerk. In powerlifting there is
squat, dead lift and bench press."
The firs time when she went to England for the Commonwealth Championship
she had no sponsors. Her college, the Rotary Club and social circles pooled
in to send her there. For her latest trip though her employers, Sterlite Industries, picked the entire bill.
"As it is a non-Olympic sport, the government does not support us," she admits. Only when they win a medal abroad does the government gives some money as travel expenses. But, obviously, that is not enough," she says.
So what is the scope for powerlifting in India?
"There are no prospects. Only Central Railway employs girl powerlifters.
Men powerlifters get jobs in all the Railways. Among the states, Karnataka
has a women's powerlifting team among their policewomen. Tamil Nadu doesn't
have it," laments Gokilavani.
Hopefully, after her exploits, some of her prayers will be answered.
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