Fiji-born lifter Varun Lal sets sights on World Powerlifting Championship
Photo:
Supplied
Fiji-born powerlifter Varun Lal is focused on making a mark at the 2025 WPC World Powerlifting Championship in South Africa in November.
Having had a taste of what to expect at the world meet when he debut for Australia in Chicago last year, the 27-year-old told RNZ Pacific that he is excited about competing against the best in the world in Durban.
The backing of his family in Ba has kept him on the road, sticking to the sport and unveiling new challenges along the way.
He only started serious powerlifting when he moved from Fiji to Australia to pursue a degree in civil engineering.
However, he has taken to the sport like a professional and made the Australian team last year.
He has continued to improve and on 1 August set a new Australian record in bench press, in the Single Ply 125kg category and became the new Open Champion.
His results at the Capo National Champions in Brisbane reads: squat (200kg), bench (145kg) and deadlift (240kg).
"Proud to become the new and set a National Bench Press Record with 145kg," he said after wining the category and setting the new record.
"This one means a lot. Months of discipline, sacrifice, and pure love for the sport. Big thanks to my coach Jack Welch, my team, and everyone who's been in my corner.
"We're just getting started."
That done, his focus has now shifted to the world champs.
"We'll be starting off from next week," he said.
"We have almost two or three months time to prepare for world champs, so it will be a challenge because I'm looking into breaking some world records.
"I know it will take some dedication, time and also have to fix up my technique."
Lal said coach Welch has helped him a lot and says he is lucky to have Welch in his corner.
Fiji-born powerlifter Varun Lal is focused on making a mark at the upcoming 2025 WPC World Powerlifting Championship in South Africa in November.
Photo:
Supplied
"He is one of my brothers, and also became a coach and he has been helping me from day one," Lal said of his coach.
"Today I'm proud to say that I became a powerlifter because of him, the way he has guided me, and he has been guiding me throughout this journey.
"Our focus is to make some more national records and keep focusing and try to win gold for Australia this year."
Lal said he started with "just lifting light weights" but trained hard and learned the techniques.
"I think most of the islanders are just lifting heavy and I think putting numbers is not the main thing," he said.
"Powerlifting is something that takes your patience as you try to learn. I know everyone is competing for their weight, but sometimes, if you focus on your techniques, you'll go much faster than what you are expecting, when just doing heavy lifting."
Lal graduated from the Australia School of Engineering earlier this year and channelled his energy into the sport he has come to love.
With his family back in Fiji and no family member with him in Brisbane, he said powerlifting was the way to go to keep him focused and challenged.
He said when he left Fiji he had no proper powerlifting knowledge, except for what he was able to do back in Ba to help him keep fit.
"I started powerlifting when I moved to Australia, because I never knew much about powerlifting, although I did little bit of it in Fiji," he revealed.
"When I moved to Australia, the standard of power lifting was different. I started early in 2023.
"In 2024 I made my debut in the nationals where I was selected to be part of Australia team to go to Chicago and compete."
He finished third overall in deadlift at the World Championship.
This year he decided to try out equipped powerlifting, where lifters wear a squat suit, knee wraps, a bench shirt, and a deadlift suit.
He broke the record in the 125kg category and looks set to continue his impressive performance going into the world champs.
Fiji-born powerlifter Varun Lal is focused on making a mark at the upcoming 2025 WPC World Powerlifting Championship in South Africa in November.
Photo:
Supplied
Lal said Ba is a well-known football district in Fiji.
So when his family heard him tell them he was into powerlifting they were initially uninterested.
His dad Vimlesh Kumar and mum Saorjni Devi were at the very least interested when Lal started telling them stories of his new sport.
But over time they have come to be his biggest fans, especially with their son wearing the green and gold of Australia in the world stages.
"Basically, my whole family is back in Fiji as I was the only one that came to Australia," he said.
"And powerlifting was something that they they never knew. As one born into the Fiji Indian community, basically we play soccer and that's all we do in Fiji as because I've grown up in the Fiji Indian community.
"But when I came to Australia, it gave me an opportunity to study, and even give me a time to go and train and excel in your sport."
La's dad had an accident last year, which called for the powerlifter to visit home.
It was then that his dad told him to return to Australia, prepare for the world champs and get on with representing his adopted home.
"He was seriously sick," Lal said of his dad.
"But he told me to go and represent Australia. That's the only thing he wanted to see.
"So, I had to leave him on his bed, and then I went to the world champs. I know he is proud that I did something for him, and this year, it's more special because he started working now, and he has been encouraging me to do more and be the best and win him something."
Lal said he is strengthened each day knowing that his family are with him in prayers and thoughts.
"It's a struggle to not have family around. But I think sometimes we just do it for our family," he said.
"Their prayers are with us and that guide us through."
Lal said he wants to also be an example for young Pasifika people that anyone can succeed if they put their time, focus and dedication into what they are doing.
The 2025 WPC World Powerlifting Championship in South Africa will run from November 4-9
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Lal said coach Welch has helped him a lot and says he is lucky to have Welch in his corner. Fiji-born powerlifter Varun Lal is focused on making a mark at the upcoming 2025 WPC World Powerlifting Championship in South Africa in November. Photo: Supplied "He is one of my brothers, and also became a coach and he has been helping me from day one," Lal said of his coach. "Today I'm proud to say that I became a powerlifter because of him, the way he has guided me, and he has been guiding me throughout this journey. "Our focus is to make some more national records and keep focusing and try to win gold for Australia this year." Lal said he started with "just lifting light weights" but trained hard and learned the techniques. "I think most of the islanders are just lifting heavy and I think putting numbers is not the main thing," he said. "Powerlifting is something that takes your patience as you try to learn. I know everyone is competing for their weight, but sometimes, if you focus on your techniques, you'll go much faster than what you are expecting, when just doing heavy lifting." Lal graduated from the Australia School of Engineering earlier this year and channelled his energy into the sport he has come to love. With his family back in Fiji and no family member with him in Brisbane, he said powerlifting was the way to go to keep him focused and challenged. He said when he left Fiji he had no proper powerlifting knowledge, except for what he was able to do back in Ba to help him keep fit. "I started powerlifting when I moved to Australia, because I never knew much about powerlifting, although I did little bit of it in Fiji," he revealed. "When I moved to Australia, the standard of power lifting was different. I started early in 2023. "In 2024 I made my debut in the nationals where I was selected to be part of Australia team to go to Chicago and compete." He finished third overall in deadlift at the World Championship. This year he decided to try out equipped powerlifting, where lifters wear a squat suit, knee wraps, a bench shirt, and a deadlift suit. He broke the record in the 125kg category and looks set to continue his impressive performance going into the world champs. Fiji-born powerlifter Varun Lal is focused on making a mark at the upcoming 2025 WPC World Powerlifting Championship in South Africa in November. Photo: Supplied Lal said Ba is a well-known football district in Fiji. So when his family heard him tell them he was into powerlifting they were initially uninterested. His dad Vimlesh Kumar and mum Saorjni Devi were at the very least interested when Lal started telling them stories of his new sport. But over time they have come to be his biggest fans, especially with their son wearing the green and gold of Australia in the world stages. "Basically, my whole family is back in Fiji as I was the only one that came to Australia," he said. "And powerlifting was something that they they never knew. As one born into the Fiji Indian community, basically we play soccer and that's all we do in Fiji as because I've grown up in the Fiji Indian community. "But when I came to Australia, it gave me an opportunity to study, and even give me a time to go and train and excel in your sport." La's dad had an accident last year, which called for the powerlifter to visit home. It was then that his dad told him to return to Australia, prepare for the world champs and get on with representing his adopted home. "He was seriously sick," Lal said of his dad. "But he told me to go and represent Australia. That's the only thing he wanted to see. "So, I had to leave him on his bed, and then I went to the world champs. I know he is proud that I did something for him, and this year, it's more special because he started working now, and he has been encouraging me to do more and be the best and win him something." Lal said he is strengthened each day knowing that his family are with him in prayers and thoughts. "It's a struggle to not have family around. But I think sometimes we just do it for our family," he said. "Their prayers are with us and that guide us through." Lal said he wants to also be an example for young Pasifika people that anyone can succeed if they put their time, focus and dedication into what they are doing. The 2025 WPC World Powerlifting Championship in South Africa will run from November 4-9
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