Meet Athlete Coach Naveen: Haryana's Unsung Hero Who is Coaching the Next Generation of Weightlifters

From a small village in Mahendragarh district to the weightlifting arenas of Maharashtra, Naveen's journey has been nothing short of inspiring. With a dream in his heart and a drive to succeed, Naveen left his home state of Haryana to make a name for himself in the world of weightlifting.

Despite Haryana being known as the mine of wrestlers, Naveen decided to pursue weightlifting. In 2013, he participated in the State Championship and emerged victorious, winning the Gold Medal in the 62 kg weight category by lifting 113 kg in snatch and 143 kg in clean and jerk.

After this feat, Naveen's hunger to succeed only grew stronger. He went on to participate in the Haryana State Championship in 2016, winning the Gold Medal in the 67 kg weight category by lifting 120 kg in snatch and 145 kg in clean and jerk.

With two state championships under his belt, Naveen set his sights on national and international championships. However, fate had other plans for him. In 2017, while trying to increase the weight during a workout in the gym, Naveen injured his knee just 15 days before the trials for the Commonwealth Games 2018.

Despite his best efforts, Naveen could not recover in time to participate in the trials. It was a heart-breaking moment for him, as he had come so close to realizing his dream. But Naveen did not give up. He continued to train and coach other athletes, leading 15 of them to win medals at state and national levels.

Today, Naveen stands as a shining example of grit and determination. His journey from a small village in Haryana to the weightlifting arenas of Maharashtra is a testament to the power of hard work and perseverance. And who knows, maybe one day, we will see him representing India on the international stage, making his dreams come true.