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Gururaja Poojary Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 29, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth15 August 1992

Age30 Years

BirthplaceVandse, Karnataka, India

ProfessionWeightlifting

NationalityIndian

Marital statusUnmarried

FamilyFather - Mahabala Poojari; Mother - Paddu Poojari; Five brothers: Rajesh, Manohar, Mohan, Ravirajand, Uday

Gururaja Poojary Biography

Gururaja Poojary is an Indian weightlifter from Vandse, Karnataka, who rose from a wrestling background to win medals at Commonwealth events and the South

Early life and background

P. Gururaja, known professionally as Gururaja Poojary, was born on 15 August 1992 in Vandse, Karnataka. He grew up in a large family as one of six brothers; his father Mahabala Poojari worked as a truck driver and his mother Paddu Poojari managed the household. All five of his brothers were involved in kabaddi, and the family faced financial hardship during his childhood.

Poojary attended the Government Higher Primary School in Vandse and later Mookambika High School in Kollur. As a youngster he practised traditional local wrestling on mud, an activity that drew the attention of his physical education teacher, Sukesh Shetty, and helped shape his early sporting interests. He went on to study at Sri Dharmastala Manjunatheshwara (SDM) College in Ujire, where he completed his graduation.

Career

Poojary began in wrestling but transitioned into strength sports while at college. Around 2010 he started training in the gym, met established powerlifters and began training under coach Rajendra Prasad. He progressed through powerlifting into competitive weightlifting and represented his college before moving onto the national stage.

He joined the Indian Air Force in 2015 as an Aircraftman. That year he had notable domestic results, earning a silver medal at the All India University Weightlifting Nationals in Jalandhar and medalling in senior national championships in Jaipur and Patiala in the 56 kg category.

Poojary made his senior international debut in 2016 at the Commonwealth senior weightlifting championships. That year he lifted a personal-best total of 249 kg (108 kg snatch and 141 kg clean & jerk) to win gold at the Commonwealth senior championships in Penang. He also captured gold in the 56 kg class at the 2016 South Asian Games in Guwahati and won a senior national gold in Tamil Nadu the same year.

In subsequent years he continued to collect medals at major events. He won bronze at the 2017 Commonwealth Championships and took silver in the 56 kg division at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast. At the 2021 Commonwealth Championships in Tashkent he moved up to the 61 kg class and won silver. In 2022 he earned a bronze medal in the 61 kg category at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

Throughout his career Poojary has worked with coach Rajendra Prasad and been supported at the national level by coach Vijay Sharma. His development involved steady improvements in competition totals; his coach has noted incremental increases over several seasons.

Public profile

Poojary is relatively compact for a weightlifter, listed at about 1.55 m (5'1") and competing around the 56–61 kg weight classes. He has black hair and black eyes. He has been recognised by the Government of Karnataka with the Ekalavya award, a state honour for sporting achievement.

Poojary has spoken in media interviews about how sporting success helped improve his family’s circumstances and about the influence of other Indian athletes on his ambitions. He has credited wrestling influences from his youth, early encouragement from teachers, and later mentorship from weightlifting coaches for his transition into the sport.

Latest updates

As of 2022 Poojary was 30 years old and unmarried. His recent international results include a silver at the 2021 Commonwealth Championships (61 kg) and a bronze at the 2022 Commonwealth Games (61 kg). He continues to represent India in international weightlifting events and remains affiliated with the Indian Air Force while training under national coaches.
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Recent Work

Commonwealth Games

Bronze medal in 2022 at Birmingham in 61 kg category

2022
Commonwealth Championships

Silver medal in 2021 at Tashkent in 61 kg category

2021
Commonwealth Games

Silver medal in 2018 at Gold Coast in 56 kg category

2018
Commonwealth Championships

Gold medal in 2016 at Penang in 56 kg category

2016
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Career Highlights

  1. Gold medal, 2016 Commonwealth senior weightlifting championships (Penang) — 56 kg
  2. Gold medal, 2016 South Asian Games (Guwahati) — 56 kg
  3. Silver medal, 2018 Commonwealth Games (Gold Coast) — 56 kg
  4. Silver medal, 2021 Commonwealth Championships (Tashkent) — 61 kg
  5. Bronze medal, 2022 Commonwealth Games (Birmingham) — 61 kg
  6. Recipient of the Ekalavya award from the Government of Karnataka
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Gururaja Poojary born?

15 August 1992

What is Gururaja Poojary known for?

Weightlifting

What is Gururaja Poojary’s marital status?

Unmarried