SportsPosted at: Oct 29 2026 3:28PM


Karnataka official felicitates 19-year-old powerlifter for world championship gold

Bengaluru, Oct 29 (UNI) Karnataka Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities Mahesh Babu on Thursday felicitated 19-year-old Sohursh Shankar, who won a gold medal at the 2026 Amateur World Powerlifting Congress (AWPC) World Championships in Manchester, UK, lifting a combined 242.5 kg.
Sohursh, who has Down syndrome, won the gold in the 75-kg Junior Special Olympics Classic Raw category at the championship held in September. His total comprised a 90-kg squat, a 50-kg bench press and a 102.5-kg deadlift. The event brought together participants from 15 countries.
The felicitation, organised by PHYSIS by TALC-The Alternative Learning Community in Bengaluru, also highlighted the need to create inclusive learning environments that enable children with special needs to pursue education, sports and social activities according to their abilities and aspirations.
Emphasising dignity, equality and participation, Mahesh Babu said society must move beyond sympathy towards meaningful inclusion and action, ensuring that every individual has the opportunity to realise their potential and lead a dignified life.
Padma Shri and Arjuna Award recipient Malathi Krishnamurthy Holla, who attended the event, said disability should not define an individual, stressing that talent, determination and opportunities could enable people to achieve their goals.
Latha Gangadharan, founder of PHYSIS by TALC, said inclusion should not mean expecting children to fit into existing environments, but creating settings that recognise their individual needs and allow them to experience childhood fully.
Sohursh's achievement follows years of early intervention, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, training and family support. Born with low muscle tone, he experienced delays in developmental milestones, including walking and speech. His interest in tennis eventually led him to powerlifting, where he progressed from becoming a Karnataka champion to winning gold at the international level.
His parents, Anitha and Uday Shankar, encouraged him to pursue sports alongside education and other interests. He completed his Class XII examinations through the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) earlier this year.
Anitha Shankar said the family's priority had always been to help Sohursh lead a happy, active and fulfilling life rather than focus solely on winning medals. She credited PHYSIS with providing an environment where he could participate in sports, build friendships and experience activities beyond academics.
She also highlighted the need to create more opportunities for young people with special needs beyond schooling, adding that the family was exploring higher education and vocational options to help Sohursh develop greater independence as he transitions into adulthood.
PHYSIS works with children from the age of three to around 20, supporting their academic, physical, emotional and social development. Its approach combines physical activities, creative pursuits and emotional learning with academics, including opportunities to complete secondary and senior secondary education through NIOS.
Yamuna D, Assistant Commissioner for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Government of Karnataka, was also present at the event.
The organisers said Sohursh's achievement underscored the importance of supportive families, educational institutions and communities in expanding opportunities for children with special needs, while stressing that inclusion must extend beyond exceptional sporting achievements to everyday dignity, acceptance and participation.
UNI BDN
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