Seventeen-year-old Powerlifter Jamila Digankar says she can’t wait to represent Britain at the European championships in Estonia.
It comes after an impressive year for the junior powerlifter.
She hit top spot at the British Junior Classic Championships in the 43kg Sub-Junior class recently where she squatted 60kg, narrowly missing a British SJ Record attempt, benched 27.5kg and deadlifted 70kg.
Jamila will now be part of Team Great Britain and lift in the European championships in March in Estonia.
She said: “I’m extremely excited to compete in Estonia at a very high standard of lifting and against Europes best lifters.”
Talking of her performance in the Junior championships she said: “Well the preparation for it was much harder than the actual performance and the whole experience was more mentally exhausting rather than physical!
“On the day I stayed in my own zone and didn’t socialise until after all my lifts. As soon as I weighed in I had headphones in and thought that I was in it to win!
“Knowing people had traveled with me on a six hour journey to Bournemouth added extra pressure so stepping onto that platform meant I was lifting for them not just me.”
Jamila, who trains five to six times a week, is the daughter of powerlifter and bodybuilder Hasham.
“My dad’s been taking me to the gym with him since I was tiny as he’s a bodybuilder and a very successful one too so seeing him lift heavy weights makes me want to do just as well as him.”
Jamila started powerlifting at the age of 16 but says taking precautions and safety is paramount in what can be a demanding sport.
She said: “It’s a sport that gets you addicted to beating your personal best so if you want to better yourself it’s a great sport to be a part of.”
Courtesy of: Asian Image