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Purnima Pandey Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 1, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth16 October 1997

Age25 Years (as of 2022)

BirthplaceGai Ghat, Varanasi, India

ProfessionWeightlifter

NationalityIndian

Marital statusUnmarried

FamilyMother - Vimla Pandey; Father - deceased (died 2019)

Purnima Pandey Biography

Purnima Pandey is an Indian weightlifter from Varanasi who has represented the country at youth, junior and senior levels. Beginning in gymnastics and then

Early life and background

Purnima Pandey was born on 16 October 1997 in Gai Ghat, Varanasi, and grew up in the same city. Known by the nickname Pihu, she started her athletic journey as a child, taking up gymnastics at about ten years old at the Kashi Vyayamshala. Her early exposure to sport laid the foundation for a transition through powerlifting and, later, weightlifting.

She studied locally and is a graduate of Suryabali College, Jaunpur. Her family includes her mother, Vimla Pandey; her father passed away in 2019, and that loss prompted Purnima to return home to support her family while continuing her sporting career.

Career

Purnima moved into weightlifting at age 17, joining the Indian Health Association in 2013. She has trained under coaches Vinay Chaurasia and Manoj Yadav and has competed across youth, junior and senior events nationally and internationally.

Her competitive record stretches back to national senior championships in 2015 and a busy period in 2016 when she took part in multiple national competitions and made her international debut. In 2016 she competed at the IWF Youth World Championship in Penang, Malaysia, and also took part in Commonwealth and Asian youth and junior events that year, competing in heavyweight categories.

Over subsequent years she continued to represent India in major events. In 2017 and 2018 she competed in Commonwealth junior and senior championships, including appearances at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast where she finished sixth in the +90 kg category. In 2021 she competed at the 36th Women Senior National Weightlifting Championships and represented India at the IWF Senior World Championships in Tashkent in the +87 kg category, finishing 10th.

A standout moment came at the 2021 Commonwealth Senior Championships, where Purnima won gold and set multiple national marks. Her winning total was 229 kg, made up of a 102 kg snatch and a 127 kg clean and jerk; these lifts produced several national records across the snatch, clean and jerk and the combined total for her category.

In 2022 she continued to compete at domestic events including the Khelo India Women Weightlifting League Tournament and the 36th National Games. She was the only Indian female weightlifter to qualify directly for the 22nd Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, where she finished in sixth place in her category. Despite managing a back injury, she claimed gold at the 36th National Games, noting that her participation came during rehabilitation and that her immediate focus was on returning to full fitness ahead of upcoming national camps.

Public profile

Purnima is listed with physical measurements commonly reported for athletes in her class: approximately 165 cm in height and around 95 kg in competition weight. She has black hair and black eyes. Her sporting identity is tied to heavyweight categories, and she has collected medals across national and international youth, junior and senior competitions—gold, silver and bronze—over the course of her career.

Personal life

Purnima is unmarried and has been described as single. She uses social media for public engagement; a Facebook profile is associated with her name. Her resilience after personal loss and her continued commitment to training at local akharas reflect the practical steps she took to maintain form while supporting family responsibilities.

Latest updates

In 2022 Purnima remained active on the national circuit, competing at Khelo India events and the National Games where she won gold despite a lingering back issue. Her performances at the 2021 Commonwealth Senior Championships and subsequent appearances in 2022 underline her status as a prominent Indian female weightlifter in heavyweight categories. She continues to prepare for a busy competitive calendar while managing rehabilitation needs.
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Recent Work

2021 Commonwealth Senior Championships

Gold medal and multiple national records in the +87 kg category (total 229 kg: 102 kg snatch, 127 kg clean and jerk).

2021
22nd Commonwealth Games, Birmingham

Qualified directly and finished sixth in her category.

2022
36th National Games

Won gold while recovering from a back injury.

2022
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Career Highlights

  1. Gold medalist at the 2021 Commonwealth Senior Championships with multiple national records.
  2. Represented India at youth, junior and senior levels including the IWF Youth World Championship and IWF Senior World Championships.
  3. Gold at the 36th National Games despite competing while rehabbing a back injury.
  4. Direct qualification for the 22nd Commonwealth Games (Birmingham) and sixth-place finish.
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Purnima Pandey born?

16 October 1997

What is Purnima Pandey known for?

Weightlifter

What is Purnima Pandey’s marital status?

Unmarried