‘Hope to Make Weightlifting Popular’: Lifters Return With Medals

Indian weightlifters will not get to go home yet as they head straight back to practice for the Asian Games.

Indian women’s 69-kg weightlifting gold medallist Punam Yadav, centre, stands with England’s silver medalist Sarah Davies, left, and Fiji Bronze medalist Apolonia Vaivai during the medal ceremony at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, on Sunday.

(Photo: AP)

The Indian weightlifting contingent was given a grand welcome on their arrival at the New Delhi airport on Thursday morning. The lifters came fresh from a successful run at the 21st Commonwealth Games, having managed to win nine medals, including five golds.

Mirabai Chanu, who won India’s first gold in Gold Coast, was elated to be back home.

“After World Championships, I had worked hard for the Commonwealth Games as it is very important to me,” said Mirabai, who won a gold medal in the women’s 48 kg weightlifting event.

Karnataka’s Sathish Sivalingum was candid about his medal hopes before the tournament.

“I had no hopes of winning a medal as I was carrying injury in my thighs,” he confessed.

The competition for 53 kg is tough in the Asian Games but I will work hard and give my best as that always pays off. With the support and help of my coaches, I hope to do well in the Asian Games as well.

Mirabai Chanu, Commonwealth Games Gold Medalist

India has been having a fairly successful run in this year’s Commonwealth Games, being held in Australia’s Gold Coast, with a total of 14 gold medals, 7 silver medals and 10 bronze medals so far.

However, the weightlifters brought home the first medals, with Gururaja opening India’s medal tally with a silver. Mirabai Chanu, the 53 kg category lifter gave the country the first gold in this year’s games as she broke the Commonwealth Games record in her category.

Weightlifters brought in five gold medals, two silver medals and two bronze ones in the 21st edition of the Commonwealth Games. Punam Yadav, Sanjita Chanu, Mirabai Chanu, Venkat Rahul Ragala and Satish Kumar Sivalingam bagged gold medals.

P Gururaja and Pradeep Singh won silver medals for the weightlifting teams while the bronze medals were brought in by Vikas Thakur and Teenager Deepak Lather from Haryana who also became the youngest Indian lifter to claim a Commonwealth Games medal.