Indian powerlifter Keyaa Kunal Banerji has won a silver medal in the deadlift at the 2026 IPF World Sub-Junior & Junior Classic Powerlifting Championships in Sun City, South Africa. The 21-year-old lifted 140kg at a competition bodyweight of 45.70kg, finishing fifth overall in the Junior Women's 47kg category.
Who is Keyaa Banerji?
Keyaa Kunal Banerji is an Indian powerlifter who competes in the Junior Women's 47kg category and represents Haryana. Powerlifting India records list her date of birth as February 16, 2005.
Her latest international performance came at the 2026 IPF World Sub-Junior & Junior Classic Powerlifting Championships, held in Sun City, South Africa, from August 18 to 29. The championships were organised under the International Powerlifting Federation.
A 21-year-old girl lifted more than three times her own body weight—and left everyone stunned. At an age when most people can’t imagine having that kind of strength, Keyaa Banerji proved that women can achieve extraordinary things in powerlifting too. What an incredible achievement by Keyaa Banerji!
What did Keyaa Banerji achieve at the World Championships?
Banerji's biggest result came in the deadlift, where she successfully lifted 140kg to win the silver medal in the individual discipline.
Her 140kg deadlift was more than three times her competition bodyweight of 45.70kg. France's Ines Herbaux won gold with a 165kg deadlift, while Ireland's Blathnaid O'Dwyer also lifted 140kg but finished behind Banerji in the deadlift standings.
Importantly, Banerji did not finish second overall in the 47kg category. She placed fifth overall after recording a 280kg total across the three powerlifting disciplines.
What were Keyaa Banerji's lifts?
Banerji completed the competition with a 90kg squat, 50kg bench press and 140kg deadlift, giving her a combined total of 280kg.
| Discipline | Best lift |
|---|---|
| Squat | 90kg |
| Bench press | 50kg |
| Deadlift | 140kg |
| Total | 280kg |
Her strongest individual result was clearly the deadlift, where the 140kg effort earned her an international silver medal.
How much has Keyaa Banerji improved?
The latest result is particularly notable because Banerji's numbers have increased considerably over the past year.
At the 2025 National Sub-Junior & Junior Classic Powerlifting Championship, she recorded an 82.5kg squat, 47.5kg bench press and 127.5kg deadlift for a 257.5kg total.
At the 2026 national championship, her recorded lifts increased to 95kg in the squat, 52.5kg in the bench press and 140kg in the deadlift, producing a 287.5kg total.
| Competition | Squat | Bench press | Deadlift | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 National Championship | 82.5kg | 47.5kg | 127.5kg | 257.5kg |
| 2026 National Championship | 95kg | 52.5kg | 140kg | 287.5kg |
| 2026 IPF World Championships | 90kg | 50kg | 140kg | 280kg |
The comparison shows her deadlift improved from 127.5kg at the 2025 national competition to 140kg at the 2026 World Championships.
What makes the 140kg deadlift significant?
The most striking aspect of Banerji's performance is the relationship between the weight she lifted and her competition bodyweight.
At 45.70kg, a 140kg deadlift was more than three times her bodyweight. That made the lift the defining moment of her World Championships campaign and earned her the silver medal in the discipline.
However, it is important to distinguish between the deadlift medal and the overall competition result. Banerji won silver for her deadlift but finished fifth overall in the Junior Women's 47kg category.
Did Keyaa Banerji win an overall World Championship medal?
No. Banerji finished fifth overall in the Junior Women's 47kg category.
Her medal came specifically in the deadlift, where she placed second with a 140kg lift. Her overall total across squat, bench press and deadlift was 280kg.
This distinction matters because describing her simply as an overall World Championship silver medallist would be misleading.
What was Keyaa Banerji's result in 2025?
Banerji competed in the same 47kg junior category at the 2025 National Sub-Junior & Junior Classic Powerlifting Championship.
Her results were:
- Squat: 82.5kg
- Bench press: 47.5kg
- Deadlift: 127.5kg
- Total: 257.5kg
The 2026 World Championship result therefore represents another step forward, particularly in the deadlift, which increased to 140kg.
What does Keyaa Banerji's performance mean for Indian powerlifting?
Banerji's result adds another international achievement to India's growing presence in competitive powerlifting. Her performance is also notable because she is competing at junior level and has shown measurable improvement across multiple lifts over a relatively short period.
Her World Championship silver also highlights a sport that often receives less mainstream attention than cricket, football, badminton or athletics in India.
The 2026 championships produced another major Indian result as well, with Joshua Ngoka winning gold in the men's 120kg category and recording a 980.5kg total.
What could be next for Keyaa Banerji?
At 21, Banerji remains within the junior competitive category and has already demonstrated significant progress between her 2025 and 2026 results.
Her immediate future competition schedule is [NEEDS SOURCE]. The available sources establish her recent World Championship performance and previous national results, but do not provide enough verified information to state her next confirmed competition.
Editorial take: Why Keyaa Banerji's story deserves attention
Banerji's achievement is worth highlighting beyond the medal itself. A 21-year-old Indian athlete lifting 140kg at a 45.70kg competition bodyweight and winning an international deadlift silver is the kind of performance that deserves wider visibility, particularly in a strength sport that receives comparatively little mainstream coverage. Her progression also makes this more than a one-off result: the numbers show a clear improvement from her 2025 national campaign.
FAQ
Who is Keyaa Banerji?
Keyaa Kunal Banerji is a 21-year-old Indian powerlifter competing in the Junior Women's 47kg category and representing Haryana.
What medal did Keyaa Banerji win?
She won silver in the deadlift at the 2026 IPF World Sub-Junior & Junior Classic Powerlifting Championships after lifting 140kg.
What was Keyaa Banerji's overall position?
She finished fifth overall in the Junior Women's 47kg category with a 280kg total.
How much did Keyaa Banerji deadlift?
Banerji lifted 140kg, which was more than three times her 45.70kg competition bodyweight.