India's Jhilli grabs gold at Asian Championships

Jhilli Dalabehera emerged as the champion in a depleted women's 45kg field at the Asian weightlifting championships in Tashkent.

Published : Apr 18, 2021 11:48 IST

- AP (REPRESENTATIVE IMAGE)

India's Jhilli Dalabehera clinched the gold medal in the 45kg category in a severely depleted two-lifter field at the Asian Weightlifting Championship on Sunday.

Jhilli, a junior world championship bronze medallist, lifted 69kg in the snatch and followed that up by 88kg in clean jerk for a total of 157kg to finish on top of the podium in all three categories of the gold level Olympic qualifier event.

However, 45kg is not a Olympic weight category.

With the win, Jhilli bettered her silver-winning performance from the last edition in 2019 where she had lifted 162kg (71kg+91kg).

The silver medal went to Philippines' Mary Flor Diaz for her effort of 135kg (60kg+75kg).

RELATED - Mirabai Chanu sets clean and jerk world record

The other Indian in the fray, Sneha Soren finished third in group B of the women's 55kg event.

The 20-year-old from Odisha lifted a total of 164kg (71kg+93kg) in the four-woman field.

After lifting 68kg and 71kg, Sneha failed to lift 73kg in her final snatch attempt. While in clean and jerk, she hoisted 93kg in her first try but couldn't manage 98kg and 100kg in the subsequent attempts.

Her final standing will be determined after the end of the group A proceedings.

Jhilli's gold was India's second medal of the tournament as star weightlifter Mirabai Chanu had smashed the world record in the clean and jerk category enroute a bronze medal on Saturday.

The Olympic-bound Chanu lifted 86kg in snatch and a world record of 119kg in clean and jerk for a total of 205kg, which was also her personal best.