Kolkata, 10 February 2025: 10 athletes from West Bengal participated and secured the 2nd overall position at the India Kettlebell Sports Championship 2025 competing against 9 other states. The Bengal team was led by Suman Debnath and consisted of the following athletes Shivani Agarwalla, Danish Naushad, Mausumi Chakraborty, Epsita Ghosh, Smriti Jaiswal, Mohammed Saifuzzaman, Santlal Bhuiya, Thup Nair, Anjona Mondal and Suman Debnath. The team won 13 Golds, 7 Silver and 1 Bronze at the championship. Shivani Agarwalla and Suman Debnath also achieved the prestigious rank of Candidate Master of Sport (CMS) along with their Gold medals.
To further promote the Kettlebell sport in India, the Indian Kettlebell Sports Championship 2025, was organised in New Delhi in association with the sport’s World body – International Kettlebell Marathon Federation (IKMF) from 1st to 2nd February. The championship garnered enthusiastic participation from 10 states of India competing under various disciplines based on age and weight categories. The Chief Guest on the occasion was Padma Shree awardee Dr. Deepa Malik, Former President of the Paralympic Committee of India. Dr. Malik handed over the medals and awards to the winning athletes for their stellar performance and zeal.
The Indian Kettlebell Sports Championship 2025 witnessed the participation of athletes from varied professions and diverse age groups ranging from 17 years to 68 years of age. Athletes from 10 states namely Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Karnataka participated in the competition along with a maiden international entry from Iraq. The event set historic milestones in the history of the Kettlebell sports championship in India as it became the first National championship where 6 athletes performed in the same flight. Moreover, it was the first time that 2 athletes above the age of 60 participated in the same event.
Speaking at the award distribution ceremony at the championship, Padma Shri Dr. Deepa Malik, Executive Board Member of the Asian Paralympic Committee and former President of the Paralympic Committee of India said, “I congratulate the Indian Kettlebell SportsThe.
Championship 2025 organizing committee has put together this event most successfully and convincingly. The Indian Kettlebell sports community is gradually evolving across various parts of the country, which is evident with the participation of athletes from over 10 states competing in this championship. Moreover, with an international participant as well, it is a true testimony of motivation and encouragement to the growing popularity of Kettlebell sport in our great Nation”. The event was organized by Arnav Sarkar and Vinay Sangwan. Arnav Sarkar is the Indian Representative of the International Kettlebell Marathon Federation (IKMF). Vinay Sangwan is a decorated Indian Kettlebell athlete having won multiple World Championships and holding multiple current Indian records.
About Kettlebell sport: Kettlebell sport lifting is a repetitive weightlifting sport performed with kettlebells in a given period. The sport consists of four main lifts: the snatch, half snatch, jerk and the long cycle. Jerkm half snatch and Long Cycle can be performed with one bell or two bells of equal weight. Competitive kettlebell lifting originated in Russia and has since then become popular across the world. The sport was started in India in 2013 by Arnav Sarkar and has since then gained popularity in India amongst players coming in from varied age and weight categories.
