Looking to weigh in on India’s haul
STRONG AREA Country’s lifters have always done well in men’s and women’s sections and again promise a big cache
India has the third-best record in weightlifting at the Commonwealth Games, after Australia and England, since the sport made its debut in 1950 Auckland. Thus, expecting a rich haul from Gold Coast is but natural. There are 16 events, eight each in men’s and women’s sections, and India will be fielding a lifter in all categories. As per regulations, each country can enter only one lifter per event.
Sathish Kumar Sivalingam, Saikhom Mirabai Chanu and Khumukcham Sanjita Chanu will be the country’s best medal hopes Down Under.
Sathish won gold at Glasgow 2014 lifting a total of 328kg (149kg in snatch, 179kg in clean and jerk) to set a CWG record in 77kg category. He also qualified for 2016 Rio Olympics in the category, where he finished 11th.
Ever since women’s lifting was introduced in 2002, India have regularly won medals. Sanjita won the yellow metal in 2014 with Mirabai coming second in 48kg. This time, Mirabai will contest in the same category while Sanjita will move up to 53kg.
The lifters will also be hoping to make a good impression in Gold Coast as the 2019 Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships will be held in India.
For the first time, lifters had to undergo a qualification process to take part in the Games. While winners of the 2017 Commonwealth Championships were given direct qualification, one competitor will be from the host nation, one will be given a wildcard while the rest have been chosen according to the rankings.
India made their intentions clear early on with Sathish (77kg), Ragala Venkat Rahul (85kg), Pardeep Singh (105kg) among men and Mirabai (48kg) and Sanjita (53kg) in women gaining
NEWDELHI:
direct qualification by winning gold at the 2017 Commonwealth Championships in Gold Coast. In the previous edition of the Games, India finished with the most number of medals: 14. Though Nigeria had won 13, they finished on top with India second by virtue of more gold. While Nigeria had six, India won three.
Apart from Sathish and Sanjita, Sukhen Dey had also won the yellow metal in 2014 but failed to qualify this time around and in his place , Guru Raja Poojary will represent India in the 56kg category.
Among men, Sathish and Vikas Thakur (94 kg) are the only two lifters from the 2014 squad which will take part in Gold Coast. Thakur had clinched a silver in Glasgow in 85kg but has jumped weight category this time.
In the women’s section, Sanjita, Mirabai, Punam Yadav and Vandna Gupta will also take part in their consecutive Commonwealth Games. Punam had clinched a 63kg bronze in 2014 but will take part in 69kg, while Vandna had failed to win a medal in Glasgow.
THE SQUAD