Indian powerlifter Keyaa Banerji has opened up concerning the sexism and on-line abuse she confronted after her exceptional silver-medal efficiency on the 2026 IPF World Sub-Junior and Junior Basic Powerlifting Championships in Solar Metropolis, South Africa. Chatting with 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 total however secured a silver medal for her 140 kg deadlift. The carry was extraordinary contemplating her competitors body weight of simply 45.70 kg. The 140 kg deadlift was greater than 3 times her body weight and have become one of many standout moments of the championship after a video of the carry went viral on social media. For Banerji, nevertheless, the second was the results of two years of arduous work slightly than an in a single day success.“I believe initially it’s a nice feeling. As soon as it got here out on social media, I did get a little bit bit overwhelmed. There was some destructive consideration, however I want to keep away from speaking about that an excessive amount of,” Keyaa mentioned whereas chatting with 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 will 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.
“A lot of the dialog revolved round my look”
Whereas the viral video introduced Banerji widespread consideration, she mentioned a lot of the net response was not about her energy, 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 hundreds of AI-generated and manipulated photos utilizing her face and physique had been circulated with out her consent. Her earlier personal 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 type of therapy after profitable a serious championship. “I believe it was simply sexism at its most interesting. I don’t suppose I can put it in some other manner. The way in which 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.“A lot of the dialog revolved round my look. All folks would discuss was my look, and I believe that actually bothered me as a result of I had completed one thing so huge for myself and I had achieved 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 carry was not even her greatest
The 140 kg deadlift might have gained Banerji a silver medal, however it was not the heaviest weight she had ever lifted. She defined that competition-day performances may be very completely different from coaching periods, and 140 kg was really 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 often attempt to hit maxes in competitors,” she mentioned.“Though my consequence labored out in a manner that I gained a silver medal as an athlete, the planning that my coach and I had achieved, 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 document 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 be the Asian document. So, my very best day would have been breaking the Asian document on stage. I used to be a little bit disheartened that I wasn’t ready to try this,” she mentioned.Her 140 kg try was her second deadlift. She then tried 142.5 kg however failed to finish the carry. “140 kg wasn’t my third deadlift; it was my second deadlift. It moved a little bit bit slower than anticipated in comparison with the way it strikes in coaching. So, I took a smaller leap of 142.5 after that, and I failed that carry. It wasn’t a perfect day, however issues labored out,” she added.
A silver medal at present, a world title tomorrow
Regardless of not reaching the Asian-record carry she had hoped for, Banerji stays happy with her efficiency and sees the championship as an essential step in a a lot larger journey. “This silver medal was one thing I wasn’t anticipating initially. I used to be simply completely happy 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 can not clarify it, and I’m overwhelmed. I used to be very completely happy to only be there. To be at that World Championship, meet my opponents, see the ladies 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 obtain on the most important stage whereas refusing to let the eye surrounding her look outline the work behind her success. Her purpose stays clear: preserve getting stronger, problem information, and ultimately deliver dwelling a World Championship gold for India.