Celestina Antoniette Rebello's lithe frame belies her strength and grit. This 17-year-old Kochi-based powerlifter has set her eyes on the Asian Powerlifting Championships to be held in Udaipur from May 1 to 6.
Rebello's prowess in the brawny event manifested as she won a silver at the Under-19 Power Lifting Championship for Girls at the National School Games and a bronze at the Federation Cup, which was held in Jammu last month. Her brilliant performance in the latter even fetched her a place in the Indian team. Notching up 95 kg in squat, 30 kg in bench press and 100 kg in deadlift, Celestina lifted 225 kg in all to win a bronze.
In the upcoming Asian Championships she will compete in the sub-junior section. It was Suresh Pai, former national champ who got Celestina to opt out of weightlifting and go in for powerlifting, realising her immense potential in it. He sees in the young champ a sure medal clincher as she seems to be at a vantage point when pitted against her fellow competitors. This is precisely why Suresh Pai feels that Celestina stands a chance to win a medal on home turf.
A member of the Ernakulam Gymnasium, she is being trained by George of Fife E Fitness. A class 12 student of Government Girls High School, Ernakulam, Celestina is the eldest daughter of the Clydson-Naina Rebello couple from Vallarpadam.
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