Weightlifter Saikhom Meerabai Chanu won the first gold medal for India at Commonwealth Games 2018.
Competing in the 48kg category, Meerabai Chanu, who claimed a silver at the 2014 CWG, lifted 80 kg in her first attempt and followed it by snatching 84 and 86 kgs respectively thereby breaking three records in all her lifts. After lifting 86 kgs, Chanu broke the Commonwealth Games 2018 record of a 77kg lift. Meerabai Chanu was being considered a sure shot medal prospect for India as her personal best of 194kg stood over 10kg more than her nearest rival in the competition.
Outstanding! Massive congrats to #MirabaiChanu who has claimed India’s first gold at #GC2018! #GC2018weightlifting #SHARETHEDREAM https://t.co/mILY2bVuYi
— Gold Coast 2018 (@GC2018) April 5, 2018
In November last year, Chanu made history at the Weightlifting World Championship by becoming the second Indian after Karnam Malleswari to win gold medal at the event. She lifted a new National record of 194kg – 85 in snatch and 109 in clean & jerk in women’s 48kg category.
It was India’s first medal at the World Championships since 1995, when Malleswari claimed gold in China. Thailand’s Thunya Sukcharoen finished in the second place having lifted a total of 193 kg while Colombia’s Ana Iris Segura bagged bronze with her total lift of 182 kg. India’s Sanjita Chanu, meanwhile, finished fifth in her category.
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