Thaindian News

By Alkesh Sharma
New Delhi, Oct 5 (IANS) In a disappointing day for the Indian weightlifters, Swati Singh failed to win a medal in the 53 kg category women while Rustam Sarang and Omkar Shekhar Otari missed the cut for top three slots in the men’s 62 kg class.

Sarang finished fourth and Otari fifth. Sarang lifted a total of 271 kg (snatch 121, clean and jerk 150 kg) and missed a medal by one kg.

Indian men and women lifters had won four medals (two silver, two bronze) Monday, the first day of competitions in the Delhi Games.

It was, however, a double delight for Malaysia in the 62 kg category as both gold and silver went to its lifters.

For India, Swati finished fourth and lifted 166 kg (snatch 74, clean and jerk 92). Her performance raised questions on her fitness, as she did not look comfortable in the clean and jerk category. Suffering with severe pain in her knee, she did not even try the last two attempts.

However, there was a neck-and-neck fight between Canada and Nigeria for the top two spots.

Canadian Marilou Prevost Dozois, 24, bagged the gold with a total lift of 182kg, (82 kg snatch and 100 kg clean and jerk).

The silver went to Nigerian lifter Onyeka Azike who lifted a total of 180 kg (80 kg snatch and 100 kg clean and jerk) while Malaysian Raihan Yusoff, 22, bagged the bronze. She lifted 175 kg (snatch 80, clean and jerk 95).

The weightlifting competition at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium was also stopped for nearly 10 minutes due to the technical snag Tuesday evening.

It was a heartbreaking miss for Sarang who despite lifting 153 kg in his last attempt, could not convince the judges.

“I had given my 100 percent but do not know why the judges were not convinced with my 153 kg lift. I accept this and will continue working hard in the coming days,” a visibly dejected Sarang told IANS.

Otari lifted a total of 265 kg - 125 kg in snatch and 140 kg in clean and jerk.

The gold was bagged by 20-year-old Aricco Jumitih with a total lift of 276 kg (120 kg snatch and 156 kg clean and jerk). The silver went to Naharudin Mahayudin, 26. He lifted a total of 275 kg (125 kg snatch and 150 kg clean and jerk).

Sri Lankan Sudesh Anton Kurukulasooriyage, 25 won the bronze for a total lift of 272 kg (snatch 120 kg, clean and jerk 152 kg).

(Alkesh Sharma can be contacted at alkesh.s@ians.in)