Keyaa Kunal

Event Description

Keyaa Kunal Banerji is a 21-year-old Indian powerlifter who made history by winning a silver medal at the 2026 IPF World Sub-Junior & Junior Classic Powerlifting Championships in Sun City, South Africa. Competing in the Junior Women's 47kg weight class, she stunned the international sports community by successfully executing a 140 kg deadlift—a massive feat representing more than three times her own body weight of 45.7 kg. Her total competition lift reached 280 kg, cementing her status as a rising elite athlete just two years after picking up the sport in college.

Summary

To build her elite strength-to-weight ratio, Banerji dedicated three to four hours daily to intensive, structured programming, often training late into the night while managing her undergraduate studies in psychology. Beyond the physical lifting, she handled her own strict nutritional meal prepping to precisely maintain her competitive weight class.

Award Details

Individual Deadlift Silver Medal