Asees Dhanda believes step into unknown helped seal European medal

By Jonny Bray, Sportsbeat

Weightlifter Asees Dhanda reckons relishing a step into the unknown held the key to securing a surprise European medal.

The 14-year-old suffered a barrage of injuries throughout 2022 and due to a lack of training, was forced to drop down from the 49kg category to 45kg at the Youth Weightlifting Championships in Raszyn, Poland.

But the Surrey star did not let that stop her, storming to a third-place finish and returning home with a brilliant bronze medal.

And the St George's School, Ascot student admits that coping with the ‘scary’ environment proved one of her biggest challenges of 2022.

"I just was not sure about how my leg strength would cope, how much I had lost off of that, so there was definitely an element of the unknown," said Dhanda, who is funded by a partnership between SportsAid and RBC.

"I was going to compete in the 49kg category, but my weight came down and down until I was sitting at about 46 and a half kilograms, so I had to compete in the 45kg category instead.

"I couldn't train to the maximum because I could not lift off the floor due to the pain.

"I was very nervous to just go out and do the full lift because I had not really practised them beforehand.

"It was scary for me."

SportsAid Week 2023 is here, with the annual initiative, which was launched in 2016, taking place from Monday 6 March to Sunday 12 March.

This year’s theme focuses on ‘Accessibility and Inclusion’ as the charity shines a spotlight on the country’s most talented young athletes and celebrates the incredible work being undertaken by its partners to support the future of British sport.

The theme of ‘Accessibility and Inclusion’ is an opportunity for the charity’s partners to highlight their own work in this area during SportsAid Week, with SportsAid athletes recently revealing that accessibility and the cost of sport are the issues they care most passionately about.

It will also open up discussions on the progress being made, as well as the challenges faced, in the sports sector.

2023 is set to be another exciting year for the young weightlifting star, with the IWF World Youth Championships set to take place in Albania later this month.

Dhanda will compete against 17-year-olds, and believes the event is the perfect opportunity to get some experience on the world stage.

"That will be my first ever World Championships, and that is more just about getting some international experience,” added Dhanda, who is supported by SportsAid and commercial partner RBC.

"Trying to hit all my lifts on the platform and controlling my nerves beforehand.

"It is an Under-17 age category and being only 14 that will be quite difficult because I'll be competing with athletes that are three years older and stronger.

"The main thing for me is just to train well in the runup, and that will build up my confidence and hopefully it will all show on the platform."

SportsAid Week 2023 takes place from Monday 6 March to Sunday 12 March! Join us for a dedicated week of fun and awareness-raising based around theme of accessibility and inclusion. Please visit www.sportsaid.org.uk