Indian weightlifters shine, Chanu bags gold medal

Birmingham: Mirabai Chanu today gave India its first gold medal at the ongoing Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. She has won in the 49 kg weight class.

Earlier, India’s young weightlifter Sanket Mahadeva Sargar has opened India’s account by winning a silver medal in the men’s 55kg weight category at the Commonwealth Games. Apart from Sanket, India’s Gururaja Pujari has also won a bronze medal in the 61kg weightlifting weight class.

Gururaja, who won a silver medal at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, finished third with a total weight of 269kg (118kg +151kg). Sagar, 21, from Sangli district of Maharashtra, was heading for a gold medal but missed by a kilo after failing two attempts in clean and jerk. He lifted 248 kg (113 and 135 kg) to win the silver medal.

Sri Lanka’s Dilanka Isuru Kumara lifted 225 kg to win the bronze medal.