CWG Highlights: Lifters Win India First Gold, Silver on Day 1

mangaloretoday.com/ PTI

Glasgow, 25 July, 2014: The Commonwealth Games started on a rousing note for the Indian contingent as they had an early haul of medals on the first day.

Khumukcham Sanjita Chanu lifted a total of 173 kg to get gold while Mirabai Chanu lifted 170 kg to win silver in the women’s 48 kg weightlifting category at the Commonwealth Games.

 

Sanjita Khumukcham in action during the 48kg weightlifting competition in Glasgow

Sanjita Khumukcham and Mirabai Chanu Saikhom bagged a gold and silver, respectively, in women’s 48kg weightlifting in a display of overwhelming domination to open India’s medal account on the opening day of the competition in the 20th Commonwealth Games on Thursday.

Sanjita won with a total lift of 173kg (77+96) while Mirabai grabbed the silver with a cumulative effort of 170 (75+95) in the absence of other strong competitors.

Nigerai’s Nkechi Opara was a distant third with 162 (70+92).

Sanjita’s total of 173kg missed the Games record, held the name of 2010 CWG gold winner Augustina Nkem Nwaokolo (175kg effort) by two kilograms. Sanjita’s 77kg effort in snatch however equalled Nwaokolo’s Commonwealth Games record.

The contest was all but over at the halfway snatch stage with 20-year-old Sanjita and 19-year-old Mirabai lifting 77kg and 75kg while Opara could come up with 70kg. The Nigerian’s attempt to give a fight to the Indian duo failed as she could not lift 75kg in her third attempt in snatch.

 

Navjot Chana of India, right, holds down Brandon Dodge of Wales during their men’s 60 kg judo quarterfinal bout