‘A lot of the dialog revolved round my look. All individuals would discuss was my look, and I feel that actually bothered me as a result of I had achieved one thing so large for myself and I had completed one thing so large in my sport.’
IMAGE: Powerlifter Keyaa Kunal Banerji mentioned she confronted on-line harassment after her breakthrough efficiency on the 2026 IPF World Sub-Junior & Junior Basic Powerlifting Championships. {Photograph}: Screengrab by way of ANI/X
Key Factors
- Indian powerlifter Keyaa Kunal Banerji confronted important on-line harassment and sexualisation after successful a silver medal on the 2026 IPF World Championships.
- Banerji described the expertise as “sexism at its best,” noting that her look was prioritised over her athletic achievement, in contrast to male athletes.
- Her breakthrough efficiency included a 140kg deadlift, incomes her a silver medal within the Junior Ladies’s 47kg class.
- The harassment concerned pretend accounts, misuse of pictures, and hundreds of unauthorised AI-generated manipulated pictures.
India’s powerlifter Keyaa Kunal Banerji has opened up concerning the on-line harassment and sexualisation she confronted after her breakthrough efficiency on the 2026 IPF World Sub-Junior & Junior Basic Powerlifting Championships, saying the remedy she acquired was a stark instance of sexism.
“I feel it was simply sexism at its best. I do not assume I can put it another manner. The best way I used to be handled – males would by no means need to face this, like after successful a championship or one thing like that; a male athlete by no means has to face one thing like this.
“A lot of the dialog revolved round my look. All individuals would discuss was my look, and I feel that actually bothered me as a result of I had achieved one thing so large for myself and I had completed one thing so large in my sport,” Banerji advised ANI.
On-line Harassment And Sexism Confronted By Athletes
The 21-year-old rose to sudden prominence after lifting 140kg within the deadlift within the Junior Ladies’s 47kg class on the championships in Solar Metropolis, South Africa. Her raise was greater than thrice her competitors body weight of 45.70kg and earned her a silver medal within the particular person deadlift occasion.
Nonetheless, the eye that adopted her achievement on social media rapidly took an uncomfortable flip, with Banerji dealing with pretend accounts, misuse of her pictures and hundreds of unauthorised AI-generated manipulated pictures utilizing her likeness.
Breakthrough Efficiency And Its Undesirable Aftermath
Reflecting on the expertise, Banerji mentioned the sudden consideration was tough to cope with but in addition expressed gratitude for the chance to discuss her sporting journey.
“In truth, I am actually grateful for the chance to be speaking to information channels as a result of it provides me the chance to truly discuss my ardour for the game and my journey progressing my numbers, and so forth. So, I am over it. I am positively over it. But it surely was a little bit bit onerous within the center,” she mentioned.
On the sphere, Banerji delivered a efficiency that established her amongst India’s promising younger powerlifters. Alongside together with her 140kg deadlift, she recorded a 90kg squat and a 50kg bench press for a complete of 280kg, ending fifth general within the Junior Ladies’s 47kg class.
France’s Ines Herbaux gained the deadlift gold with a 165kg raise, whereas Eire’s Blathnaid O’Dwyer additionally lifted 140kg. Banerji due to this fact completed second within the particular person deadlift standings.
Banerji’s Sporting Journey And Achievements
Banerji’s journey into powerlifting started with none preliminary plans of competing professionally. She began coaching at a fitness center for private fulfilment and well being earlier than being launched to the game by a pal who was a world-level powerlifting coach and had additionally gained a gold medal for India.
“Once I was first beginning out, I simply began going to the fitness center for a way of private achievement and simply caring for my well being, and so forth. However I had a pal who was a powerlifting coach and was additionally competing at a world stage. He has additionally gained a gold medal for the nation. So, I felt extraordinarily impressed and felt very interested by how this works,” she mentioned.
Her curiosity ultimately changed into aggressive ambition as her numbers improved throughout the squat, bench press and deadlift.
Banerji additionally highlighted the technical calls for of powerlifting, saying competing requires way more than merely with the ability to raise heavy weights.
“There are guidelines, ensuring that your raise matches the instructions of the referee, ensuring that after you’ve got picked up, as an example, as soon as you’ve got accomplished your deadlift, you’ll be able to’t simply go away the bar. You may solely put it down as soon as the referee asks you to place it down. So, there are lots of, it is a very technical sport. There are lots of issues that go into it,” she mentioned.
Technicalities And Ardour Behind Powerlifting
Regardless of the undesirable consideration, Banerji stays firmly targeted on the game that has performed a significant position in her life.
“My sport is one thing that actually helped me in my life. Throughout my school instances, I used to sit up for coaching. Typically I must practice at night time, typically I must skip lessons to coach, but it surely’s one thing that by no means actually bothered me. It is all the time one thing I actually loved,” the younger powerlifter mentioned.
Banerji lately graduated from Ashoka College with a BSc in Psychology and is contemplating pursuing an MBA, however for now her focus stays on persevering with her progress in powerlifting after a landmark worldwide marketing campaign.
