Telangana Sports Authority Comes to the Rescue of Teenage Weightlifter

Hyderabad: The Sports Authority of Telangana, on the suggestion of TRS leader and MP K Kavitha, approved the funding of teenage weightlifter Erra Dixitha thus enabling her to participate in the World University Weight Lifting Championships to be held in Mexico, in November.

Erra Dixitha was selected to represent Osmania University (OU) at the World Championships. However, she was unable to procure any institutional support to fund her trip to Mexico. Hailing from a middle-class family, the 19-year-old weightlifter said it was impossible for her to raise the Rs 1,91,300 required for her trip. When she approached the OU authorities, they cited lack of funds to sponsor her trip. The Association of Indian Universities, whom she approached, also denied funding for her.

Stating that she has been practicing for more than a year for this championship, she said her parents were not in a position to fund the trip. Seeing no other go, Dixitha approached Kavitha for help, and within five days, she received funding from the Sports Authority of Telangana to the tune of Rs 1,50,000.

Dixitha managed to raise the remaining Rs 41,000 and is now looking forward to attending the world championships between November 13 and 17 at Merda in Mexico.