Indian weightlifters win two golds
India has finally earned gold medals in the 2010 Commonwealth Games weightlifting competition.
Katulu Ravi Kumar and Yumnam Renu Bala Chanu ruled their respective weight categories as the host nation's national anthem was finally heard at the Jawaharlal Nehru Sports Complex.
The 22-year-old Kumar lifted 146kg in the snatch and 175kg in the clean and jerk to set a new Games record of 321kg in the men’s 69kg division.
Sri Lanka's Chinthana Geetal Vidanage settled for the silver medal with a total lift of 308kg. The Sri Lankan actually set a new Games mark of 174kg before Kumar broke it again on his final lift.
"Two years of hard work has given me this gold medal. I thank my family and the federation in helping me reach this far," Kumar said.
The Orissa native added that he was happy to overcome the pressure to win a gold medal.
"I was never under pressure despite a lot of hype always surrounding me and I was very confident as the event was happening at home ground. But suddenly I started to feel a lot of pressure last night.
I told my coach about it and also went to my mother and broke into tears wondering whether I could do it for my country. But at the same time I promised myself that I would win a gold for the country," he said.
Mohammad Hafifi Mansor of Malaysia took home the bronze medal with a total lift of 306kg.
Chanu successfully defended her title in the women's 58kg weight class. The 24-year-old set a new Games snatch record of 90kg shortly after lifting 88kg to break the existing mark set by Canadian Maryse
Turcotte in 2002. Chanu lifted 107kg in the clean and jerk for a 197kg total.
"I dedicate the gold medal to the people of India and to the Indian Weightlifting Federation," Chanu said. "The IWF went through some tough phases in recent times and this gold medal, I think, will help
a lot in recovering from the setbacks."
It was an easy win for Chanu, who finished comfortably ahead of closest pursuers Seen Lee of Australia and Zoe Smith of England. Lee lifted 192kg while Smith hauled 188kg.
The twin wins increased India's medal harvest to two gold, two silver and two bronze medals in the weightlifting competition.
The competition will resume with medals at stake in the men's 77kg and women's 63kg categories.
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