The 21-year-old, competing for India, lifted 140kg in the deadlift at a competition bodyweight of 45.70kg. The effort was more than three times her body weight.
According to The Logical Indian, Banerji finished the competition with a total of 280kg. Open Powerlifting records state that her other successful lifts included a 90kg squat and a 50kg bench press.
The championships were held from August 18 to 29 under the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF).
140kg deadlift earns Banerji silver
Banerji’s best result came in the individual deadlift event. She successfully completed a 140kg lift to finish second in the discipline.France’s Ines Herbaux won the deadlift gold medal after lifting 165kg. Ireland’s Blathnaid O’Dwyer also managed 140kg, but Banerji finished ahead of her in the deadlift standings and took the silver.
Times Now reported that Banerji’s 140kg deadlift was equivalent to more than three times her body weight, making the lift a notable part of her performance in South Africa.While the silver medal came in the deadlift, Banerji’s overall position in the 47kg junior competition was fifth. Her final 280kg total came from a 90kg squat, 50kg bench press and 140kg deadlift.
A big jump from her 2025 performance
Banerji’s latest result also shows how much she has improved over the past year.
At the 2025 National Sub-Junior & Junior Classic Powerlifting Championship, she competed in the same 47kg junior category and lifted 82.5kg in the squat, 47.5kg in the bench press and 127.5kg in the deadlift. Her total at the event was 257.5kg.
Her numbers improved again at the 2026 national championship. She recorded a 95kg squat, 52.5kg bench press and 140kg deadlift for a total of 287.5kg, according to competition records cited by Open Power Lifting.
She also won silver in the women’s 47kg category at the 2026 National Classic Bench Press Championship, where she recorded a 47.5kg lift.
The progress is particularly clear in the deadlift, which increased from 127.5kg at the 2025 national championship to 140kg at the world championships this year.
Joshua Ngoka wins gold for India
India also had another major result at the championships through Joshua Ngoka, who won gold in the men’s 120kg category.
Ngoka completed all nine of his attempts, finishing with a 9-for-9 performance and a massive total of 980.5kg. His performance also earned him an IPF Junior World record in South Africa.
According to Times Now, Ngoka received loud support from the crowd during his attempts and kept the spectators engaged throughout his competition.
For Banerji, meanwhile, the silver medal in the deadlift adds another important result to a rapidly improving career. At just 21, she has already raised her numbers across all three lifts over the last year, and her 140kg deadlift at the world championships has now given her an international medal to add to her growing record.
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