A coaching session is in the works on the second flooring of Kolathur’s The Hammer Fitness health club, on a significantly scorching April morning.
Kettlebell coach Vignesh Hariharan is at work, instructing 55-year-old Sharmila Kumari Pinjala the correct methodology to carry and maintain a weight for a strong time period. Sharmila, at present a zumba and Pilates teacher primarily based out of Bengaluru, first heard the phrase ‘kettlebell’ solely 5 years in the past when one among her college students instructed she introduce it in her dance-cum-fitness periods.
“I have always been scared of weights. Though I am into fitness, I have never been a gym person. I was sceptical because I didn’t know if I would be able to lift even more than two kilograms,” she laughs, reminiscing about a time earlier than her try to tackle a certification course in kettlebell lifting.
Today, she is beaming with pleasure as her first tryst with any sport has resulted in a gold medal a part of the OALC (one-arm lengthy cycle) 30-minute class and a bronze in the OALC 10-minute class on the recently-held 12th GSIF Kettlebell National Championship in Goa. Winning a wealthy tally of medals, the nine-member Tamil Nadu workforce displayed their prowess on the occasion that showcased prime kettlebell gamers throughout the nation.
For Vignesh Hariharan, who has been an integral a part of town’s kettlebell coaching circuit, that is a second of reckoning. Vignesh got here into popularity in 2019 when he was topped World Champion in Australia, thus changing into the primary individual in South India to be awarded the title. “In the Goa event, we had a nine-year-old and a 55-year-old taking part. As a coach, that gave me great joy,” says Vignesh, who additionally participated in the occasion, clinching three gold medals in totally different classes.
‘Never give up’
For the uninitiated, the sport of kettlebell originated in Russia and continues to be practised by Russian military personnel to hone their bodily and psychological energy. In Russia, the sport is named girevoy, and athletes are referred to as gireviks. “It can be played from by a wide group of people, ranging from the age groups of eight to 80. But it will test your patience; that’s when the sport gets intense,” says Vignesh.
Rohith G, a 26-year-old medical sports activities physiotherapist, is aware of a factor or two about this. In his current outing at Goa, Rohith reached a breaking level when he bought a deep reduce in his left hand in the course of the first 5 minutes of the competitors. “I was just not able to hold the kettlebell. I was about to give up, but my team pushed me on from the sidelines.”
Rohith was at about 100 repetitions when he was mentally able to give up however due to highly effective phrases of encouragement, he pushed himself to succeed in 285 repetitions. “It is a cardio workout and helps build endurance. It keeps the heart healthy, but the most important aspect of kettlebell lifting is learning to never give up,” says Rohith, who frequently trains together with his pink kettlebell, that weighs eight kilograms and prices round ₹4,500, at dwelling. He then sends video footage to his coach.
His goal? “To win a gold in Asia and World Championship and then train more athletes.” He definitely seems as much as his coach Vignesh, who has already produced 4 World Champions and 5 National Champions for the reason that time the latter grew to become a World Champion himself. This is even supposing a couple of years have been misplaced in adapting to COVID-related lockdowns. He says, “Kettlebell lifting is picking up at a fast rate in the country now, with more awareness about the sport’s benefits to overall fitness and health. From here, up is the only way to go.”
Published – April 30, 2025 03:58 pm IST
