Learn about kettlebell lifting, a sport gaining popularity in Tamil Nadu

Rohith G, Vignesh Hariharan and Sharmila Kumari Pinjala at The Hammer kettlebell academy in Kolathur. Photo: Srinivasa Ramanujam. Shot On OnePlus #FramesofIndia

A training session is in the works on the second floor of Kolathur’s The Hammer Fitness gym, on a particularly hot April morning.

Kettlebell coach Vignesh Hariharan is at work, teaching 55-year-old Sharmila Kumari Pinjala the proper method to lift and sustain a weight for a solid period of time. Sharmila, currently a zumba and Pilates instructor based out of Bengaluru, first heard the word ‘kettlebell’ only five years ago when one of her students suggested she introduce it in her dance-cum-fitness sessions.

“I have always been scared of weights. Though I am into fitness, I have never been a gym person. I was sceptical because I didn’t know if I would be able to lift even more than two kilograms,” she laughs, reminiscing about a time before her attempt to take on a certification course in kettlebell lifting.

Today, she is beaming with joy as her first tryst with any sport has resulted in a gold medal part of the OALC (one-arm long cycle) 30-minute category and a bronze in the OALC 10-minute category at the recently-held 12^th GSIF Kettlebell National Championship in Goa. Winning a rich tally of medals, the nine-member Tamil Nadu team displayed their prowess at the event that showcased top kettlebell players across the nation.

For Vignesh Hariharan, who has been an integral part of the city’s kettlebell training circuit, this is a moment of reckoning. Vignesh came into popularity in 2019 when he was crowned World Champion in Australia, thus becoming the first person in South India to be awarded the title. “In the Goa event, we had a nine-year-old and a 55-year-old taking part. As a coach, that gave me great joy,” says Vignesh, who also participated in the event, clinching three gold medals in different categories.

‘Never give up’

For the uninitiated, the sport of kettlebell originated in Russia and is still practised by Russian army personnel to hone their physical and mental strength. In Russia, the sport is known as girevoy, and athletes are called gireviks. “It can be played from by a wide group of people, ranging from the age groups of eight to 80. But it will test your patience; that’s when the sport gets intense,” says Vignesh.

Rohith G, a 26-year-old clinical sports physiotherapist, knows a thing or two about this. In his recent outing at Goa, Rohith reached a breaking point when he got a deep cut in his left hand during the first five minutes of the competition. “I was just not able to hold the kettlebell. I was about to give up, but my team pushed me on from the sidelines.”

Rohith was at about 100 repetitions when he was mentally ready to quit but thanks to powerful words of encouragement, he pushed himself to reach 285 repetitions. “It is a cardio workout and helps build endurance. It keeps the heart healthy, but the most important aspect of kettlebell lifting is learning to never give up,” says Rohith, who regularly trains with his pink kettlebell, that weighs eight kilograms and costs around ₹4,500, at home. He then sends video footage to his coach.

His aim? “To win a gold in Asia and World Championship and then train more athletes.” He certainly looks up to his coach Vignesh, who has already produced four World Champions and five National Champions since the time the latter became a World Champion himself. This is despite the fact that a couple of years were lost in adapting to COVID-related lockdowns. He says, “Kettlebell lifting is picking up at a fast rate in the country now, with more awareness about the sport’s benefits to overall fitness and health. From here, up is the only way to go.”