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MP: This 72-yr-old power lifter is striving to make the sport dope-free
They say age is all in the mind. One who is young at heart always remains young forever. Septuagenarian power lifter SK Malhotra is the perfect example, for whom cycling and body building is still a passion.
They say age is all in the mind. One who is young at heart always remains young forever. Septuagenarian power lifter SK Malhotra is the perfect example, for whom cycling and body building is still a passion.
The 72-year-old national gold medalist works out for 6-8 hours every day with a hope to break the record of the oldest participant in the Olympic Games, a position presently held by Swedish shooting star Oscar Swahn.
The 93kg power lifter says he is working hard to make power lifting a dope-free sport so that it can be included as an discipline in the Olympic Games and he can participate.
Malhotra, who sports a white beard, says he gets his energy from “dal, chawal, sabji, roti and lassi” and not from steroids and body building supplements.
“Due to supplements and junk food, people are losing strength at a young age, whereas I feel young even at 72 because of my healthy eating habits,” he says
“Power lifting is tarnished as a sport because of doping, which is a reason behind its unpopularity around the world,” says Malhotra, who trains young power lifters.
Malhotra says he never allows his trainees to take any kind of power-enhancing drugs. “I am fed-up with this gym culture…where trainers insist their trainees to take supplements and steroids for power. I took up the sports at the age of 43, but I never felt any need for supplements.”
Power lifting has been included in the national games but the sport has not been included in the next two Olympics, he says.
“I will keep maintaining myself until my last breathe…to break Oscar Swahn’s record as the oldest participant in the Olympic Games.
“I will continue my passion till my last breath…I enjoy the deadlift more than squat and bench press,” says Malhotra, who has won several world and national championships.”
The power lifter was conferred with the lifetime achievement award by the Indian Powerlifting Federation. He won the gold medal in 93kg weight category in the national power lifting championship held in Jammu in January this year.
