Sanjita Chanu gave India it’s second gold medal of the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia by winning the women’s 53 kg weightlifting event on Friday.
Sanjita overcame a stiff challenge from 2014 Glasgow gold medallist Dika Toua of Papua New Guinea with a total lift (snatch plus clean and jerk) of 192 kg for India’s second gold in the weightlifting category. Sanjita registered a Games record in snatch with a lift of 84kg that put her in pole position in the event. This was the second Commonwealth gold for the Manipur weightlifter, having won the 48kg event in Glasgow four years back.
This is India’s third medal of CWG 2018 with Mirabai Chanu winning gold on Day 1 while P Gururaja claiming the silver — both in weightlifting.
Congratulations to @ioaindia‘s Sanjita Chanu Khumukcham who successfully defended her title and won Gold in 53kg Weightlifting on Day 2 of competition. It’s the second Gold for India so far at the Games: their female weightlifters truly deliver. ?️♀️ pic.twitter.com/QEQFtgLwjG
— Commonwealth Games Federation (@thecgf) April 6, 2018
#GC2018Weightlifting #CHANU STORM hits Gold Coast!
2 Days, 2 Chanus, 2 Golds ?So proud of our #Weighlifters @WeighliftingIN for bringing us such glory at the #GC2018 #CommonwealthGames #TeamIndia #Congratulations @Media_SAI @Ra_THORe @IndiaSports @GC2018 pic.twitter.com/03mOHOhnYD
— IOA – Team India (@ioaindia) April 6, 2018
Sanjita started off with a lift of 81kg in snatch and in her second attempt managed to lift 83kg. She then broke the Commonwealth Games record set by compatriot Swarti Singh in Glasgow by lifting 84lg in her third snatch attempt.
Apart from weightlifting, India took off to a considerably brilliant start in mixed-event badminton as the nation thrashed Sri Lanka and then Pakistan in the two matches played on Thursday. In squash too, Dipika Pallikal, Joshna Chinappa cruised to the round of 16. However, it was heartbreak for the nation when women’s hockey team were stunned by lower-ranked Wales 2-3 in their opening tie.
