Mirabai Chanu lifts Railways to team title

Vishal Solanki's well-measured and blemish-free display earned him the men's 109kg gold medal.

K. Ravi Kumar (men's 89kg) and Mirabai Chanu (women's 49kg) were adjudged best lifters.

 

Gurdeep Singh, a 2017 Commonwealth championships bronze medallist, won a close battle over fellow Railway competitor Himanshu Kumar Chang to take the men's +109kg title in the concluding event of the National Weightlifting Championships at the Railway Indoor Sports Enclave here on Thursday.

Gurdeep's total lift of 390kg enabled him to beat Chang by four kg. Services' Vipan Kumar was a distant third with 357kg. He had a two kg advantage over Chang after the snatch contest, and he extended his lead with a 220kg second clean and jerk effort.

Chang settled for 218kg in clean and jerk. He desperately tried for 223kg but did not succeed.

Gurdeep sought to raise the bar after securing the title. He became the first Indian to attempt 225kg — four red discs on their side of the bar — though without luck.

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Vishal Solanki's well-measured and blemish-free display earned him the men's 109kg gold medal.

Solanki's gradual and consistent improvement was the highlight of his performance. He added five kg to his initial snatch effort of 150kg before registering 160kg.

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Solanki, who was four kg behind Lovepreet in snatch, remained calm to lift 186kg in his first clean and jerk try against the Chandigarh lifter's 183kg.

Solanki improved by seven kg to overtake Lovepreet, who could do 188kg, in his second attempt. Lovepreet faltered in his final try for 194kg and conceded the title.

Solanki added another seven kg to sign off with 200kg. “I did not have any pressure as everything went off according to my plan,” said Solanki.

K. Ravi Kumar (men's 89kg) and Mirabai Chanu (women's 49kg) were adjudged best lifters. Host Railway picked up the team championship.

The results:

Men: 109kg: 1. Vishal Solanki (RSPB) snatch 160kg, clean and jerk 200kg, total 360kg; 2. Lovpreet Singh (Chd) 164kg, 188kg, 352kg; 3. Gurmail Singh (SSCB) 155kg, 183kg, 338kg.

+109kg: 1. Gurdeep Singh (RSPB) 170kg, 220kg, 390kg; 2. Himanshu Kumar Chang (RSPB) 168kg, 218kg, 386kg; 3. Vipan Kumar (SSCB) 156kg, 201kg, 357kg.