Weightlifter Sanjita Chanu wins second gold for India

Sanjita Chanu opened India's medal account on day two in Gold Coast.

Sanjita lifted a total of 192 kg which included a CWG record of 84kg in the snatch and 108kg in clean and jerk.

In Glasgow 2014, Sanjita Chanu had set the tone and tenor of the Indian campaign by cruising through to win the 48kg category in weightlifting, presenting the country with its first gold medal. Four years down the line, now 24, the lifter from Manipur might not have enjoyed the same privilege, but all the same, it was Sanjita’s day out at the Carrara sports arena 1 here on Friday.

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To say that it was all class would be an understatement. She just was head and shoulders above the rest of the 13 competitors and as she went through the two-phased programme with quiet confidence and determination, Sanjita proved to be an easy winner over the reigning champion Loa Dika Toua (Papua New Guinea) by a wide margin of 10kg and a worthy champion of the women’s 53kg category.

“In Glasgow, it was easy, but I found it tough here as I was unable to lift the way I wanted,” said the Indian who cracked the Games record in snatch with a lift of 84 kg and then clean and jerked 108kg for a total of 192kg. Perhaps, it was the failed third attempt of 112kg in clean and jerk which made her comment that way. Toua finished second with a total of 182kg while Rachel Leblanc Bazinet (Canada) was a close third with 181kg.

India won a second medal, this time a bronze, through young Deepak Lather in the men’s 69kg even as Gareth Evans (Wales) overtook early leader C. Dissanayake Mudiyanselange (Sri Lanka) for the gold medal, displaying his superiority in the clean and jerk. The Sri Lankan held a 1kg advantage over both Evans and Lather after reaching 137kg in snatch.

The 18-year-old from New Delhi was unable to match his rivals in clean and jerk and had a card of only 159kg in the event after a failed third attempt of 162kg. But nevertheless, it was gutsy showing by the teenager making his debut in the Games.

India had a third competitor in the fray during the course of the day, Sarasawati Rout, in the women’s 58kg, but the country’s hopes of medal in this division failed to materialise as the Indian was eliminated following her failure to clear her opening weight of 78kg in all three attempts in snatch.