After three days of waiting, the Tricolour finally went up at the weightlifting arena. Not once, but twice.
Ravi Kumar Katulu set three new Commonwealth Games records in the men’s 69 kg event while Renubala Chanu Yumnam won the 58 kg gold with two records at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex here on Wednesday.
Perhaps, the moment of the day was when Chanu stood saluting the national flag while it was being raised.
The 22-year old Ravi Kumar lifted a total of 321kg, including 146kg in snatch and 175kg in clean and jerk, creating new marks in all three. Defending champion Chinthana Vidanage of Sri Lanka claimed silver with 308kg while Mohammad Hafifi Mansor (306 kg) of Malaysia took bronze.
Earlier, the 24 year old Chanu displayed strong technique to hold aloft with ease 88 kg in snatch and 90 kg in clean and jerk for two new records en route to defending the crown won at Melbourne. The sparse crowd was roaring in celebration even as Chanu came out for her final attempt, knowing fully well that India was assured of the top spot after closest competitor Seen Lee of Australia failed to lift 111 kg with her final try.
The reigning champion, Chanu failed in her final effort to lift 113 kg for the aggregate record. However, the Manipur lass improved her personal best by two kilograms for a total of 197 kg while Lee settled for the silver at 192 kg, three kilograms less than her best. Chanu had opened her confident charge to the gold medal with 84 kg in snatch and 104 kg in clean and jerk.
Meanwhile, her Australian challenger faltered after starting with a promising lift of 86 kg in the snatch session. The 27-year old failed in her next two attempts to hand Chanu the advantage.
England’s 16-year old Joe Smith claimed bronze lifting a total of 188 kg (85+103) while Canadian Emily Quarton, the silver medallist at Melbourne, finished fifth.
