WORTH THEIR WEIGHT IN GOLD
Weightlifters laid the foundation for India’s splendid show by winning five gold medals. The start was indeed important to instill belief in athletes whose events were scheduled later. It wasn’t a surprise that Manipur dynamite, Mirabai Chanu Saikhom, set the tone by rewriting the CWG record by lifting 196 kg (snatch 86+ clean & jerk 110) on her way to gold. Mirabai has been unstoppable in the 48 category since 2017.
After another Chanu (Sanjita) from Manipur lifted the 53kg gold, the ironman of Tamil Nadu, Sathish Kumar Sivalingam, proved his prowess yet again with the gold in 77kg. He was the only gold Indian medallist to do an encore. “This gold is definitely sweeter than my first in 2014. A thigh injury I suffered at the national championship in January meant I wasn’t at my best in 2018. I just wanted to do my best without worrying about medals, so I was thrilled when I went all the way,” he said.
Coach Vijay Sharma highlighted how the change in diet at the camp in Patiala and hard work helped Indian weightlifters reap a rich harvest at Gold Coast. It is also incumbent upon him that all his charges remained clean all the time because doping has marred the reputation of weightlifting no end.
Venkat Rahul Ragala of Andhra Pradesh reached the summit in the 85kg before Punam Yadav wrapped up India’s brilliant campaign with the gold in the 69kg. This gold is sweeter than my first in 2014. I wanted to do my best without worrying about medals, so I was thrilled when I went all the way. — Sathish Kumar Sivalingam