India: Weightlifter Jeremy Lalrinnunga set a new Games record at the Commonwealth Games, winning gold with a total lift of 300kg. Indian athletes will continue to aim for more medals on the third day of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham on Sunday.He secured the top podium in the Men’s 67kg category.
Jeremy led the entire field. First, he set a new snatch Games record with a lift of 140 kg. His nearest competitor lifted 130 kg in the snatch.
Then Jeremy lifted 160kg in his second attempt. Although Samoa’s Vaipava Nevo came in with a clean and jerky Games record of 166kg, Jeremy’s combined best of 300kg was seven kg better than Nevo’s combined 293kg. The Samoan had to settle for a silver medal.
While, Bindyarani Devi won the silver medal in the women’s 55 kg weightlifting competition, to set India’s tally at five on Saturday. The 23-year-old lifted a total of 202 kg. She lifted 86 kg in the snatch round and completed the clean and jerk round at a Commonwealth Games record of 116 kg.
Talking about her performance in the event, Devi told reporters at ANI, “I’m very happy to get a silver in the first time of playing CWG. Today was my life’s best performance. Gold slipped out of my hand. When I was at the podium, I wasn’t at the centre, will do better next time.”
She said, “My next targets are national games, World Championship, Asian Games and then the 2024 Paris Olympics. I’ll do better in them.”
Nigeria’s representative, Adijat Olarinoye secured her gold at an impressive aggregate of 203 kg (92 kg 111 kg).
Earlier, Mirabai Chanu had awarded India her first gold medal while Sanket Sargar and Gururaja Poojary had acquired silver and bronze respectively.
One of the biggest highlights of the day would be the women’s cricket match between arch-rivals India and Pakistan. World women’s boxing champion Nikhat Zareen will also start her campaign on the day.
Meanwhile, India’s Tania Choudury took the lead in the women’s grass court 5th round match against Northern Ireland’s Shauna O’Neill. Yogeshwar Singh also started competing in the men’s gymnastics all-around final. Later in the day, India will also be seen playing against Pakistan in a women’s cricket match at Edgbaston, Birmingham.
Both India and Pakistan lost their opening Group A matches and are in desperate need of a win. Events such as cycling, boxing, swimming and badminton also took center stage on the third day. On Day 2, India won four medals with weightlifter Mirabai Chanu winning the gold. The contingent would now hope to back up Day 2 with good Day 3 performances.
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