New Delhi: Weightlifter Jagdish Vishwkarma left the spectators in awe after pulling off the Nataraj pose while lifting 193kg in clean and jerk in the men’s 102kg event at the National Games 2025 on Sunday. The senior weightlifter won the elusive gold medal in the event after lifting a total of 345 kg in clean and jerk and the snatch categories combined.
Jagdish lifted 152kg in snatch and 193kg in clean and jerk for a total of 345kg to clinch the top spot on the podium. However, more than his gold medal-winning victory, his one-legged celebration during the clean-and-jerk round caught the attention of the fans present inside the weightlifting arena in Dehradun.
After cleanly lifting the 193kg barbell in the clean and jerk round, Jagdish raised his left leg and crossed it to celebrate his gold-medal victory in style. The Nataraj pose was his way of celebrating the gold medal and instantly saw him become the talk of the town. It was an extraordinary display of power and precision from the senior weightlifter, who left the audience in his owe of his prowess.
Is this India’s strongest Nataraja pose?
Jagdish Vishwakarma of SSCB holds up 193kg on one leg at the National Games! pic.twitter.com/BEavW0LDSL— jonathan selvaraj (@jon_selvaraj) February 2, 2025
It wasn’t the first time that Jagdish did the Nataraj pose while lifting weight as he pulled off something similar while performing in the National Championships in December last year where he broke the national record in the snatch category in the 102kg men’s event by lifting 157kg. He also broke the overall record with a total lift of 353kg.
Vaishav Shahaji Thakur sets national record in snatch
While Services’ Jagdish stole the show with his one-legged celebration while lifting 193kg in his clean-and-jerk attempt, Maharashtra’s Vaishav Shahaji Thakur broke the national record in the snatch category in the men’s 102kg event with a 160kg lift. However, Thakur managed only 175kg in clean and jerk and had to settle for silver as he finished behind Jagdish overall with a total of 335kg.
Opening up on his viral celebration, Jagdish, a Commonwealth Games bronze medallist, said he has done it quite a few times in the past and enjoys doing it. He also expressed his happiness over achieving the qualifying mark of 345kg for the upcoming Asian Championships in China this year.
“It has become my pose to celebrate. I have done it a few times in Services competition and also in the nationals. I feel good. I try to show that I can lift the weight on one leg,” Jagdish told the Hindustan Times.
Weightlifter Jagdish Vishwakarma pulled off a stunning Nataraj pose while lifting 193kg during the 102kg men’s weightlifting competition at the National Games 2025 on Sunday. Other Sports Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
