The nation’s youngest ever world champion, Gumendra Shewdas returned to Guyana last night to a hero’s welcome after lifting the overall gold on Monday in the 53kg class at the World Sub Juniors and Juniors Championships in Killeen, Texas.
“It feels great to be world champion, I’m really excited, this is big” said the pint-sized gladiator at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri last night. The 18-year old powerlifter from Corriverton etched his name in the record books after recording a total of 475kg.
Shewdas, squatted 180kg, bench pressed 90kg and deadlifted 205kg to earn his place at the top of the podium and create history as Guyana’s youngest ever world champion in any sport.
The powerlifting prodigy and runner up Junior Sportsman of the year was so dominant that his closest rival, USA’s Dalton La Coe finished a distant second, winning the silver in excess of 20kg behind (452.5kg total). Shewdas’ best squat and bench press routines were below par and trailed La Coe 182.5kg (squat), 105kg (bench press) heading into the deadlifts by 17.5kg but a monster lift of 205kg on his second attempt catapulted the local powerhouse into the lead after La Coe could only muster a lift of 165kg, bombing out twice on 192.5kg. So what is Guyana’s latest hero looking forward to?
“I’m looking forward to bigger and better things, since this is my last year as a sub junior, I’m looking ahead to graduate to the world junior ranks” the Pan American and Commonwealth gold medalist added.
When quizzed on what he would like as a reward, Shewdas replied:
“I think I deserve something because I’m the first ever 18 and under world champion for any discipline in Guyana, I think they (the government) should do something for that”.
Despite Shewdas’ historic feat however, there was no government official at the airport to greet him. Shewdas and members of the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPF) are however scheduled to have a welcome reception with president Donald Ramotar at his office on Monday.
