Glasgow, July 24: India launched their campaign in the 20th Commonwealth Games with a flourish with weightlifters K Sanjita Chanu and S Mirabai Chanu bagging a gold and silver, respectively, in a display of overwhelming domination after the judokas assured of at least two silver medals here today.
In women’s 48kg weightlifting on the opening day of competitions, Sanjita won with a total lift of 173kg (77+96), while Mirabai grabbed the silver with a cumulative effort of 170 (75+95) in the absence of other strong competitors.
Nigeria’s Nkechi Opara was a distant third with 162 (70+92).
Sanjita’s total of 173kg missed the Games record, held in the name of 2010 CWG gold winner Augustina Nkem Nwaokolo (175kg effort) by two kilograms. Sanjita’s 77kg effort in snatch however equalled Nwaokolo’s CWG record.
The contest was all but over at the halfway snatch stage with 20-year-old Sanjita and 19-year-old Mirabai lifting 77kg and 75kg while Opara could come up with 70kg. The Nigerian’s attempt to give a fight to the Indian duo failed as she could not lift 75kg in her third attempt in snatch. It was basically a contest between the two Manipuris in an event which India had dominated for long in the Commonwealth Games from the days of Kunjarani Devi.
Earlier, judokas Navjot Chana and Shushila Likmabam assured the team of at least two silver while the paddlers, shuttlers and squash players had easy outings. The 30-year-old Chana of Punjab and Manipuri judoka Sushila, 19, were the star performers for the Indian contingent as they romped into the finals of their respective weight categories.
In the men’s 60 kg, Chana defeated Daniel Le Grange of South Africa in just 1 minute and 51 seconds to storm into the medal round. He will take on Ashley McKenzie of England in the final later in the day.
In the women’s section, Shushila Likmabam reached the finals in the 48 kg category defeating Aussie rival Chloe Rayner in two minutes and 23 seconds. Sushila got a couple of Wazaris that is equivalent to an ‘Ippon’ which finished the bout. She will lock horns with Kimberley Renicks of Scotland in the final.
She had earlier defeated Amy Meyer of Australia in 2 minutes and 38 seconds in the quarter-finals while she got better of Mani Medza Effe of Cameroon in a minute and 41 seconds in the pre quarter finals. (PTI)
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