Mirabai Chanu and Sanket Sargar, India’s weightlifters, competed in the 55kg category at the Singapore International Weightlifting Competition.
The competition started on February 25th and on the very first day, Ms. Chanu and Mr. Sanket Sagar won a gold medal in their respective events (Women and Men 55 kg). Ms. Chanu usually competes in the 49 kg category. This is the first time that she was competing in the higher weight category (55kgs). With a body weight of 50.1 kg, she is one of the lightest in the segment.
The silver in the men’s event also went to an Indian – Mr. Rishikanta Singh.
Ms. Chanu lifted 86 kg in snatch and 105 kg in lift and jerk (styles of lifting), making it a total of 191.
This win means that she has directly qualified for the Commonwealth games (CWG) to be held in Birmingham, England, from July 28 to August 8 this year.
In the men’s events, Mr. Sanket Sagar lifted 113 kg in snatch and 143 kgs in lift and jerk, totalling 256. The silver medal winner, Mr. Rishikanta Singh, lifted 110 kgs in snatch and 136 kgs in lift and jerk, totalling 246.
Both of them have also qualified for the CWG 2022.
Both Sanket Sagar and Rishikanta Singh are athletes from the government’s TOP – a special program to prepare sportspersons for the Olympics.
India wins gold in the 59 kg category too
In the 59kg category too, India’s Bindiyarani Devi secured gold with a lift of 85 kg in snatch and 111 kg in lift and jerk, totalling 196 kg. She is also an athlete under the TOP scheme. She has also secured her place at CWG 2022.
Image Credit: Sports Authority of India and Meerbai Chanu
