73-year-old Telangana man becomes national powerlifting champion after heart surgery

D V Shankar Rao, a retired SBI banker from Bhadrachalam, Telangana, won 4 gold medals at the National Masters Classic Powerlifting Championship just 6 months after joining a gym.

At 60, Shankar Rao underwent coronary bypass surgery. A decade later, encouraged by a friend, he entered a local gym in February 2025 under coach G V Rami Reddy and medical supervision.

Training began with basic mobility and progressed carefully. By August, he was competing nationally in Kozhikode, winning gold in squat, bench press, deadlift, and overall.“I felt regenerated after surgery,” says Shankar Rao. “Age is not a criterion.”His family, initially concerned about weight training post-surgery, now supports him fully. Doctors monitored every session to ensure safety.

Now 73, he is preparing for the National Championship in Aurangabad in July 2026 and an International Meet in Reno, USA, in October 2026. He needs about Rs 5 lakh to participate.

His coach says his discipline has inspired other senior citizens at the gym to take up strength training.