“I started my career as a weightlifter and the journey of setting Guinness World Record started as a labourer in an iron workshop. I was a national medalist in weightlifting. I wanted to bring fame of Manipur and India in the field of weightlifting. But as my father expired untimely, i stopped to play weightlifting which is my favourite sport and i had to work in an iron workshop to support my family. Now, as i have recorded my name in Guinness Book of World Records, i want to concentrate on weightlifting…” said young Manipuri record holder.
Maibam Itomba Meitei had earlier won medals in weightlifting competitions both at state and national levels. He won gold medal in State Level Weightlifting Championship 2017, Khuman Lampak in men’s 50Kg category. He bagged silver medal in All India SAI inter Weighlifting Championship which was held from 7th to 9th September of 2007 at Visakhapatnam , Andhra Pradesh. He won another gold medal in the 4th Sub Junior (Boys) National Weight Lifting Championship 2007 which was organised by Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWF). He had a big dream of representing India in international competitions.
However, his dream had to be left behind as his father expired untimely. He felt financial insecurity after the demise of his father. He left his loved game and started working in an iron workshop. He narrated “I did not aim to make a record. Not at all! It just happened. It was after the demise of my father that I had to work as a labourer in an iron workshop to support my family. While working in the workshop, i just did pull-ups using my little fingers of both hands in an iron bar which was located above my height. Then others saw it, started noticing my abilities and encouraged me to try for a Guinness World Record. Then after several years of intensive practices and concentration, I succeeded in making the world record”
Maibam Itomba Meitei made 16 pull ups in 30 seconds using two little fingers, breaking the previous world record of 16 pull ups in a minute by an American weightlifter. He made Manipur and India proud when he made Guinness world record attempt successful for the most consecutive pinky chin-ups. The certificate of the Guinness World Records says “The most consecutive pinky chin-ups is 16 and was achieved by Maibam Itomba Meitei in Imphal, Manipur, India, on 15 March 2014,”.
Itomba said that achieving a Guinness World Record was a very great achievement but he wanted to achieve in weightlifting. He said with confidence “now, as i have recorded my name in Guinness Book of World Records, i want to concentrate on weightlifting which I like most”
Maibam Itomba became the second person from Manipur to set his name in Guinness Book of World Records after Moirangthem Okendra for his world’s tallest topiary Sambal-Lei Sekpil which was created in 1999. Itomba is followed by 7 years old wonder kid Tiluck Keisham to become the third Guinness World Record setter for the ‘Farthest Distance Limbo Skating Under Bars’.https://web.archive.org/web/20210611154541if_/https://www.youtube.com/embed/uxAT3xVG7XQ?feature=oembed
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