Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Aug 7: G V Ashok from Kota, who is employed in a bank, has bagged three silver medals in the Asian powerlifting Championship held recently in Hong Kong.

Ashok, who represented India in this championship, works presently at Gangolli branch of Canara Bank, and trains at Veeramaruti Gymnasium at Saligrama in Udupi district. He has already won a number of state and national level awards, and emerged as a promising talent in powerlifting sector.

Hard work has been the lone leading secret behind this achievement of Ashok, who is a strict vegetarian. He gets his strength due to his stress on regular workouts. Born to G V Herle and G V Lalita on September 24, 1960, Ashok evinced interest in powerlifting since a young age. He had to study in different educational institutions, as his father was a government employee. He started work in Canara Bank at its head office in 1982. He holds M Com and CAIIB degrees.

When he was in Shivamogga, Ashok used to play volleyball. The physical education teacher in his school, who observed that Ashok had good bodily features, advised him to work out in the gym regularly, duly expressing the opinion that his future lies in building a strong body. Ashok did not heed to this advice, but the teacher, who was hell bent on his advice, forced Ashok to attend a gym. Ashok continued with this practice thereafter, and even now promptly drops in at Veeramaruti Gym at Saligrama at 5.30 pm everyday.

His campaign in powerlifting began in 1979-80 at Shivamogga. After winning district level prizes in powerlifting, weightlifting and bodybuilding competitions, he earned eligibility to compete at the state level that year. In that year, he was placed second at the state level in both powerlifting and bodybuilding. Thereafter, he regularly won first, second or third places at the state level in these competitions. In course of time, he began to lay more stress on powerlifting. His maturity and experience ensured that he won a medal in every competition he entered in.

He created a new record in 1984 by lifting 240 kg in dead lift. He participated in the international level powerlifting tournament held at Jemshedpur in November 2014, in which contestants from eight nations participated. He emerged as the strongest person there. In the recent Asian powerlifting Championship at Hong Kong in which 18 countries had taken part, he won three silver medals.

Ashok says that contestants get very little encouragement in this segment, as the contestants themselves are expected to meet all costs. When registering for international competitions too, the contestants are made to meet the entry fee. Normally many people who have the power and confidence of winning medals do not enter such competitions as the entry fee happens to be very high. He feels that even rural talents can emerge as medal winners if the government extends support to skilled power lifters.

A number of institutions and organizations have felicitated Ashok, in recognition of his achievements. However, there has not been any initiative so far from the side of the government to identify his achievements and honour him. Ashok is not interested in publicity and felicitations. He says he works on his talent for his own satisfaction, and his aim has always been to hold the name of the state and country high.

Ashok draws lot of inspiration from wife, Geeta, in his endeavour. His son, Anush, is a well-placed officer of Indian Navy. Daughter, Neeta, is a talented small screen artiste. She dons the role of the leading lady in the tele-series, 'Yashode' being telecast by Colors. Ashok loves his job and sports interest equally, and earns affection and liking of people because of his friendly and simple nature. We sincerely wish that he will register more milestones in his field of interest, and bring further laurels for his motherland. Those wishing to congratulate him may call 9449389095.

'No other sports activity is getting the encouragement cricket is getting as of now. This mindset needs to he changed. At the government level, all kinds of sports activities should be supported and encouraged equally. In powerlifting sector, most of the talents lose out on opportunity because of their inability to meet entry fee. Serious thought should be given this aspect,' Ashok feels.

G V Ashok, unlike almost all other bodybuilders, is a vegetrian. Many wonder how can a pure vegetarian muster enough strength for competing with others and emerge victorious. Ashok feels that regular workouts in gym have enabled him to overcome this drawback. Non-addiction to vices have helped him too. He has proved that eating non-vegetarian food is not compulsory to become successful weight lifters and bodybuilders.