Dad Vincent Carlo, Son Vance and Daughter Venizeia Win Medals in Intl Powerlifting Championship

Dad Vincent Carlo, Son Vance and Daughter Venizeia Win Medals in Intl Powerlifting Championship

Mangaluru: Seems like the siblings want to follow in their father’s footsteps-and that has been in the case of Carlo family in Mangaluru, where dad Vincent Prakash Carlo , an international body builder and power lifter came fourth in the 83 KG (open category), his daughter Venizeia Annie, aged 18 (63 kg- sub junior category) brought home a gold and a silver medal, his son Vance Fallon, who made his debut at an international meet in 66 kg category, brought home a gold medal at the Asian Bench-Press Power-Lifting championship held in Dubai recently.

Vincent Carlo seen with his Son Vance and daughter Venizeia

Last year, Venizeia, while an II PUC student at St Agnes College-Mangaluru had bagged four medals-two gold, one silver and one bronze in the Asian Classic Power-lifting Championship held at Alleppey in Kerala. This year she is a first B com student at St Aloysius College, Mangaluru. Vance aged 15 is in Xth standard. They have a younger sister, Vanya (5 years) who is doing her schooling at St Agnes School, Mangaluru. Their mother Flavia is a home-maker.Last time when Team Mangalorean had interacted with 17-year-old Venizeia, and asked if she had any intention of beating her dad in medal totals, she blushingly had said, “I am anxiously looking forward to winning big in the future championships and beat my dad in the medals” (smiling?). And what she said that day has come true again, where she has bagged a gold and silver in Dubai event.

According to Venizeia, both her brother and sister, have also keen interest in taking up power-lifting just like their dad. Venezeia has been getting training in power-lifting from her dad, and power-lifting champion Satish Kumar Kudroli at Carlo’s Gym-Maroli, Mangaluru which is managed by Vincent Carlo. When asked about her future plans, Venizeia said she wants to become an Air Hostess, and simultaneously continue this sport, and win big in power-lifting also.

Vincent Carlo, employed with State Excise Department-DK has won quite a few laurels, like winning the Gold medal at the Commonwealth 2011 games held in London; Bronze medal in 2015 Asian Bench Press Championships held at Muscat; Gold medal in International Bench Press Championships held at Jamshedpur, India; and in October 2016, he got the 7th place in the Asian Bench Press Championships held at Tashkent-Uzbekistan, thereby bringing name and fame to Mangaluru.

Speaking to Team Mangalorean, Vincent Carlo said, “ I am happy that my children have performed extremely well. My son is probably the youngest Indian to bring home a gold medal at this meet. However, we all missed our coach Sathish Kumar Kudroli, the coach for Team India selected by the Power lifting Federation. He could not make it because the state did not give him permission to attend the meet. Participating in these competitions needs lot of finance-it costs around Rs 4 lakhs to take part in a International competition. And even though me and my daughter have won medals in International events in the past , until now the government has not released our cash prize money for our achievements, and I hope that to receive the money soon and not wait for years??”

On Thursday, 27 September the powerlifting team received a rousing welcome at the Mangaluru Central Railway Station, by MCC Mayor Bhasker Moily, and other sports enthusiasts, to the beating of drums and crackers. The 25 member team from Karnataka, of which 19 were from Mangaluru had bagged 11 Gold, 14 Silver, and 10 Bronze at this Asian Powerlifting Championship, which is indeed a proud moment for Mangaloreans.

Coach Sathish Kumar Kudroli speaking to media said, ” Our team from Mangaluru had performed extremely well in this Dubai event, and have come back with quite a few medals, that’s good news for Mangaloreans. Since we don’t get enough support from our government, I urge our politicians to support not just cricketers but other sportsmen too, like us, so that they get encouraged and bring back more laurels to the state”.

After felicitations being done at the Railway station, the team was taken in a procession in a open jeep, cheered by people on the streets. The arrangements for this celebration was arranged by the fans of Powerlifters Association and Bala Anjaneya Gymnasium and many other friends of these sportsmen.

Team Mangalorean compliments these winners and wish them best of luck in future Powerlifting championships.

Also Read Related articles :

• ‘Amche Chedu’ 17-year-old Venezeia Carlo is ‘Strong Woman of India’
• City Girl Venizeia Carlos Bags 4 Medals in Asian Power Lifting Championship-Kerala