Birmingham, July 30 (UNI) Tokyo Olympic silver medallist weightlifter Mirabai Chanu gave India its first gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games after successfully lifting a combined weight of 201kg in the women’s 49kg category here on Saturday.
Chanu lifted 201kg (Snatch 88kg; Clean & Jerk 113kg), which is a CWG record to claim the top honours. Marie Hanitra Roilya of Mauritius won the silver medal with 172kg (76kg + 96kg) while Canada’s Hannah Kaminski bagged the bronze with 171kg (74kg+ 97kg).
The 27-year-old Chanu's 88kg lift in the snatch round is a CWG record and equaled her personal best. The 113kg lift in the clean and jerk round is also a Games record.
The previous Games record was held by Chanu herself courtesy a 191kg lift which brought her the 48kg gold medal at Gold Coast 2018.
She began her title CWG defence with a 84kg effort. She then attempted 88kg in her second try to match her personal best. Her third attempt, a crack at 90kg, however, was unsuccessful.
In the clean and jerk, the Manipuri lifter recorded109kg in her first attempt and shattered both the Games and Commonwealth record to secured the gold. A lift of 113kg in her second attempt saw her extend the winning margin.
This was the third successive medal for Chanu at the CWG. She has won silver at Glasgow 2014 and won gold at Gold Coast 2018.
UNI BAV