Parm Phangura is weeks away from realizing a dream. Born and raised in Quesnel, B.C., he is a member of the Canadian weightlifting team that will travel to the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India.

A graduate of the British Columbia Institute of Technology in Occupational Health and Environment, Phangura has been competing in Olympic-style weightlifting since 2003. As an elite athlete, his victory at the 2002 Canadian national championships in front of family and friends in his hometown, where he took the national title for a second year, is among his mostmemorable moments.“It was exciting that my family and friends were there for me,” Phangura recalled.

As with most elite athletes, Phangura’s journey to the pinnacle of his sport has been challenging, as he overcame a lower-back injury prior to the 2007 nationals. Later that year, he competed at the Pan American Weightlifting Championships but had to withdraw from the competition with an elbow injury that eventually required surgery.

After the rehabilitation process and with the help of his coach, Dan Gad, and his family’s support, these Commonwealth Games bear a special appeal, since they are being held in India, home of his ancestors. “I’m looking forward to competing in New Delhi since it’s my parents’ homeland. I have a lot of friends and family who will be there to cheer for me,” Phangura said.

After qualifying for the team, he focused on his preparation for the Commonwealth Games. He is an Occupational Health and Safety Manager for ACM Environmental and juggles his training schedule with being a husband and father to a two-year-old daughter. “I have wonderful support from my wife and family who adjust their schedule to help me. I am grateful for my wife’s Sophia’s understanding – she herself is a former national medalist in weightlifting,” said Phangura. “I also have a boss who is very understanding.”

With the Commonwealth Games starting in a few short weeks, he reflects that “when you believe in yourself, the results will come. It takes a lot of effort and sacrifice to get better but looking at other elite athletes and what they have achieved, it pushes me to get even better. If someone says that I can’t, I push even harder,” Phangura said.

He believes he is a medal contender and is proud to represent Canada at the Commonwealth Games, in front of his family. “Yes I believe I can win a medal. And if my body can follow through to the London Olympics in 2012, I believe I can keep on pursuing my dream!’’