Dandamudi Rajagopal
Encyclopedia
Dandamudi Rajagopal was renowned sports person of India
.
He was born in Gandigunta village in Krishna district
in a family of farmers. Impressed by the performance of Kodi Rammurthy Naidu
, he took up the line of Weight Lifting. He was trained by Sistla Somayajulu in Weight lifting for sometime.Later He traveled with Kolli Rangadasu and gave many performances in different Indian states.
He annexed kerala title in 1942 and the bombay provincial honours in 1944 breaking all the previous records
He has represented India in International competitions held in Burma in 1947.
He won Gold medal in Indian Olympic Games held at Delhi in 1952. He has lifted 780 pounds in the Heavyweight category. In 1954 Indian Olympics he has won Gold medal and established three Records.
He won Bronze medal in 1951 Asian Games
held in New Delhi
in Weightlifting.
Dandamudi was the 1st Indian weightlifting champion continuously for 13 years from 1945 to 1958.
Dandamudi won Mr.Asia title in 1948 at calcutta in Asian body building competition.He was the 1st president of Andhra olympic Association. He has been the captain of Andhra olympic team.He was the Founder of Andhra Olympic Association and Several other Sports Associations in Andhra Pradesh.
He has represented India thrice in the world Olympic games
held in London
(1948) and Melbourne
(1956) and represented India in the Heavyweight category of Weightlifting. He has got 16th rank in final standings in London Olympics and 9th rank in Melbourne Olympics . 11th Place in Finland
Olympics in 1952.
He established Free gymnasia name D.R.Gopal'Institute at many places in krishna district to coach youngsters.He was a good coach too
(1963), wherein he portrayed the role of Bheema
. He also acted in Bheemanjaneya Yudham,Veera abhimanyu.In his short stint in the silver screen .Dandamudi acted alongside stalwarts like Dr.N.T.Rama Rao,Shoban babu,S.V.Ranga Rao and Kantha Rao. his film nartanasala won best film in Indonesian Film festival at jakarta in 1963
He died on 6 August 1981. An Indoor Stadium
was named after him as Dandamudi Rajagopal Rao Indoor Stadium in his memory at Vijayawada
near Krishna District.and was inaugurated by then chief minister of Andhra pradesh Tanguturi Anjaiah. Rajagopal was married to Anasuya they had 5 children 3 sons and 2 Daughters.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
He was born in Gandigunta village in Krishna district
Krishna district
Krishna District is a district of India's Andhra Pradesh state. It is named after the Krishna River, the third longest river that flows within India, flows through the district and joins Bay of Bengal here in this district. It has a population of 4,529,009 of which 32.08% is urban as of...
in a family of farmers. Impressed by the performance of Kodi Rammurthy Naidu
Kodi Rammurthy Naidu
Kodi Ramamurthy Naidu, also known as Prof. Rammurty, was an Indian bodybuilder who earned enormous respect for India in the field of wrestling. Prof. Rammurty worked as Physical Education Teacher in the Branch College of Vizianagaram. He got profound knowledge in Vayu Stambhana Kodi Ramamurthy...
, he took up the line of Weight Lifting. He was trained by Sistla Somayajulu in Weight lifting for sometime.Later He traveled with Kolli Rangadasu and gave many performances in different Indian states.
Sports Achievements
In 1946 won 1st place in XII Olympic games of India held in Banglore in heavy weight classHe annexed kerala title in 1942 and the bombay provincial honours in 1944 breaking all the previous records
He has represented India in International competitions held in Burma in 1947.
He won Gold medal in Indian Olympic Games held at Delhi in 1952. He has lifted 780 pounds in the Heavyweight category. In 1954 Indian Olympics he has won Gold medal and established three Records.
He won Bronze medal in 1951 Asian Games
1951 Asian Games
The 1951 Asian Games, officially known as the First Asian Games, was a multi-sport event celebrated in Delhi, India from 4 to 11 March 1951. The Games received names like First Asiad and 1951 Asiad by the president of the organising committee Anthony de Mello...
held in New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
in Weightlifting.
Dandamudi was the 1st Indian weightlifting champion continuously for 13 years from 1945 to 1958.
Dandamudi won Mr.Asia title in 1948 at calcutta in Asian body building competition.He was the 1st president of Andhra olympic Association. He has been the captain of Andhra olympic team.He was the Founder of Andhra Olympic Association and Several other Sports Associations in Andhra Pradesh.
He has represented India thrice in the world Olympic games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
held in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
(1948) and Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
(1956) and represented India in the Heavyweight category of Weightlifting. He has got 16th rank in final standings in London Olympics and 9th rank in Melbourne Olympics . 11th Place in Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
Olympics in 1952.
He established Free gymnasia name D.R.Gopal'Institute at many places in krishna district to coach youngsters.He was a good coach too
Honours & Popularity
Dandamudi was conferred with various titles as Mr.Asia, Andhrabhima, Andhrahercules, Indian Tarzan and The Giant of India. Dandamudi feats attracted people all over the country. He used to break iron chains tied to his body by taking a deep breath and flexing his muscles. Dandamudi is the 1st Indian who has received Mr.Asia title. Arjuna award winner kamineni eswararao is trained by dandamudi in weight liftingFilm Career
He has acted in some films. The most notable performance was in NartanasalaNartanasala
Narthanasala is a classical mythological Telugu film directed by Kamalakara Kameshwara Rao. Samudrala Raghavacharya wrote the story and dialogues. It is produced by Rajyam Pictures in Black and White.-Cast:-Crew:...
(1963), wherein he portrayed the role of Bheema
Bheema
-Box office:In its opening week, the film grossed a record of 19 crores in Tamil nadu and fetched a record 5 crores in Thiruvarur alone, thus becoming the second biggest opening after Sivaji at that time. The film debuted at number one position at the Chennai box-office and grossed 58 lakhs in the...
. He also acted in Bheemanjaneya Yudham,Veera abhimanyu.In his short stint in the silver screen .Dandamudi acted alongside stalwarts like Dr.N.T.Rama Rao,Shoban babu,S.V.Ranga Rao and Kantha Rao. his film nartanasala won best film in Indonesian Film festival at jakarta in 1963
He died on 6 August 1981. An Indoor Stadium
Stadium
A modern stadium is a place or venue for outdoor sports, concerts, or other events and consists of a field or stage either partly or completely surrounded by a structure designed to allow spectators to stand or sit and view the event.)Pausanias noted that for about half a century the only event...
was named after him as Dandamudi Rajagopal Rao Indoor Stadium in his memory at Vijayawada
Vijayawada
Vijayawada is the third largest city in Andhra Pradesh, India, located on the banks of the Krishna River and bounded by the Indrakiladri Hills on the West and the Budameru River on the North. The city is located in the Krishna District, about from the state capital Hyderabad.Vijayawada literally...
near Krishna District.and was inaugurated by then chief minister of Andhra pradesh Tanguturi Anjaiah. Rajagopal was married to Anasuya they had 5 children 3 sons and 2 Daughters.