Indian powerlifter Keyaa Banerji has opened up concerning the sexism and on-line abuse she confronted after her outstanding silver-medal efficiency on the 2026 IPF World Sub-Junior and Junior Traditional Powerlifting Championships in Solar Metropolis, South Africa. Talking to ANI, the 21-year-old mentioned that whereas she was happy with lifting 140 kg within the deadlift within the Junior Girls’s 47 kg class, the dialog on-line quickly shifted from her sporting achievement to her look and identification.
From a forty five.70 kg athlete to a 140 kg deadlift
Keyaa Banerji’s efficiency on the World Championships was a serious milestone in her younger powerlifting profession. Competing within the Junior Girls’s 47 kg class, she completed fifth general however secured a silver medal for her 140 kg deadlift. The elevate was extraordinary contemplating her competitors body weight of simply 45.70 kg. The 140 kg deadlift was greater than thrice her body weight and have become one of many standout moments of the championship after a video of the elevate went viral on social media. For Banerji, nevertheless, the second was the results of two years of arduous work fairly than an in a single day success.“I feel initially it’s a nice feeling. As soon as it got here out on social media, I did get slightly bit overwhelmed. There was some adverse consideration, however I want to keep away from speaking about that an excessive amount of,” Keyaa mentioned whereas talking to ANI. “I’m very happy with myself and really pleased with my accomplishment. I’ve been working in the direction of this for 2 years. This silver medal was one thing I wasn’t anticipating initially,” she added.She had entered the championship hoping to realize expertise on the world stage. As a substitute, she returned with a medal and a efficiency that drew consideration from throughout social media. “It began with me considering that this World Championship is one thing I’ll attend only for expertise. The truth that I ended up placing such a great quantity up and profitable a medal was simply completely unbelievable,” she mentioned.
“Many of the dialog revolved round my look”
Whereas the viral video introduced Banerji widespread consideration, she mentioned a lot of the web response was not about her power, preparation, or silver medal. As a substitute, she confronted trolling, impersonation, sexual harassment, and feedback about her look, ethnicity, ancestry, and caste. She additionally mentioned 1000’s of AI-generated and manipulated photos utilizing her face and physique had been circulated with out her consent. Her earlier non-public Instagram account was additionally suspended, after which she created a brand new account.Talking concerning the expertise, Banerji described it as sexism and mentioned she believed a male athlete wouldn’t have confronted the identical sort of remedy after profitable a serious championship. “I feel it was simply sexism at its best. I don’t suppose I can put it in some other approach. The best way I used to be treated- males would by no means need to face this, like after profitable a championship or one thing like that; a male athlete by no means has to face one thing like this,” Keyaa mentioned.“Many of the dialog revolved round my look. All folks would discuss was my look, and I feel that actually bothered me as a result of I had completed one thing so huge for myself and I had completed one thing so huge in my sport,” she added. For Banerji, the response was notably painful as a result of it overshadowed an achievement she had spent years working in the direction of.
Her 140 kg elevate was not even her finest
The 140 kg deadlift might have gained Banerji a silver medal, but it surely was not the heaviest weight she had ever lifted. She defined that competition-day performances could be very completely different from coaching periods, and 140 kg was truly on the decrease finish of the vary she and her coach had deliberate. “Competitors day numbers and coaching numbers aren’t at all times the identical. Performing as an athlete on competitors day may be very completely different from what you do in coaching. In powerlifting, we normally attempt to hit maxes in competitors,” she mentioned.“Though my outcome labored out in a approach that I gained a silver medal as an athlete, the planning that my coach and I had completed, 140 kg, was on the decrease finish of the vary for what we had been planning to hit that day,” Keyaa added. Throughout coaching, she had lifted round 147.5 kg and 150 kg a number of occasions. The 147.5 kg mark was additionally the Asian report she had hoped to problem on the world stage. “In coaching, I’ve hit round 147.5 kg and 150 kg a number of occasions. 147.5 kg can also be the Asian report. So, my excellent day would have been breaking the Asian report on stage. I used to be slightly disheartened that I wasn’t in a position to do this,” she mentioned.Her 140 kg try was her second deadlift. She then tried 142.5 kg however failed to finish the elevate. “140 kg wasn’t my third deadlift; it was my second deadlift. It moved slightly bit slower than anticipated in comparison with the way it strikes in coaching. So, I took a smaller bounce of 142.5 after that, and I failed that elevate. It wasn’t a perfect day, however issues labored out,” she added.
A silver medal at the moment, a world title tomorrow
Regardless of not attaining the Asian-record elevate she had hoped for, Banerji stays happy with her efficiency and sees the championship as an essential step in a a lot greater journey. “This silver medal was one thing I wasn’t anticipating initially. I used to be simply comfortable to be current on the World Championship as a result of powerlifting is a long-term sport. I do have plans of ultimately profitable a World Championship and getting a gold again for the nation,” she mentioned.She additionally spoke concerning the surreal expertise of standing alongside athletes she had admired earlier than competing on the similar stage. “I am unable to clarify it, and I’m overwhelmed. I used to be very comfortable to only be there. To be at that World Championship, meet my rivals, see the women that I used to look as much as round me, and compete in the identical competitors it was an unreal feeling,” she concluded.Banerji’s journey on the 2026 World Championships is subsequently about greater than a 140 kg deadlift or a silver medal. It’s about an athlete proving what she will be able to obtain on the largest stage whereas refusing to let the eye surrounding her look outline the work behind her success. Her objective stays clear: hold getting stronger, problem information, and ultimately convey house a World Championship gold for India.
