Surendra Poonia

Major Surendra Poonia in PBG uniform.
Surendra Poonia

Picture of a young Indian male up to the waist. He is holding India's national flag over his head and with medals around his neck

Major Surendra Poonia after winning Gold Medal in Power-lifting at Croatia
Personal information
Nationality Indian
Born 1 January 1977
Rajpura (70 km from Sikar), Rajasthan, India
Residence New Delhi, Delhi, India
Education Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS)
Alma mater Armed Forces Medical College, Pune
University of Pune
Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya
Occupation Sportsman (Power-lifter)(Athlete) (Doctor)
Height 172 cm (5 ft 8 in)
Major Poonia with former President of India, Mr. APJ Abdul Kalam
Major Poonia

Major (Dr) Surendra Poonia is an international award-winning sportsman, Limca book record holder, physician and former Special Forces officer of the Indian Army.[1] He is the first Indian athlete with the rare distinction of having won medals in power-lifting[2] and athletic events in four consecutive world championships.

Major Surendra Poonia with his medals

Career

Major (Dr) Poonia is an alumnus of the Armed Forces Medical College,[3] Pune (AFMC Pune) and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya,[4] Patan, Sikar, Rajasthan. He was commissioned into the Army Medical Corps in August 2001. He served with - The President's Bodyguard[5][6] at Rashtrapati Bhawan, Special Forces and United Nation's [7] peacekeeping mission in Democratic Republic of Congo.[8]

Achievements

Major Surendra Poonia represented India in Croatia,[9] Spain and Turkey[10] in 4 World Championships and won 21 medals including 8 Golds. He is the first Indian power-lifter to have won gold in four consecutive championships from 2010 to 2013. On Jan 26, 2012, he was felicitated by 'Vishisht Seva Medal'[11][12] by The Hon'ble President of Republic of India[13] for his 'Distinguished Service of an Exceptional Order' in the field of sports. He was also awarded 'Most Entertaining Sportsman of the year'-Male by Reliance Big FM in 2013.He is limca book record holder of most international sport medals won by any Indian doctor,[14]

References

  1. ↑ "Army officer does the country proud". The HIndu. July 18, 2010.
  2. ↑ "Indian Army doctor wins three golds at World Medical & Health games". Newsyaps. July 11, 2013.
  3. ↑ "PBG man wins medals at the World Medical & Health Games". The Hindu. July 21, 2012.
  4. ↑ "An interview with Major Surendra Poonia, the doctor who powerlifted his way to glory". Newsyaps. July 18, 2013.
  5. ↑ "Bodyguard shows his mettle". The Indian Express. July 17, 2010. Retrieved July 17, 2010.
  6. ↑ "Bodyguard shows his mettle, this time on track". The Indian Express. August 10, 2011.
  7. ↑ "Indian army doctor wins medals at the World Medical and Health Games". NVO News. July 22, 2010.
  8. ↑ "For Dr Poonia, it’s country above all". The Sunday Guardian. 6 October 2013. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
  9. ↑ "Love for nation spurs Poonia". Hindustan Times. July 23, 2010.
  10. ↑ "Poonia to the fore". The Sunday Guardian. Sep 2, 2012.
  11. ↑ "President felicitates Rashtrapati bhavan medical officer Major SurendraI Poonia for winning seven medals". http://presidentofindia.nic.in''. October 15, 2012.
  12. ↑ "President Felicitates Maj Poonia for Winning Seven Medals". Outlook. October 15, 2012.
  13. ↑ "President Pranab Mukherjee admires medals of Major Surendra Poonia, VSM at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.". Outlook. October 15, 2002.
  14. ↑ "Most international sport medals won by a doctor".