New Delhi: India’s 20-year-old weightlifter Achinta Sheuli won gold in the men’s 73kg division at the Commonwealth Games 2022lifting a new games record total of 313kg at the NEC Hall number 1 in Birmingham. With Sheuli’s win in CWG 2022, India got its third gold medal on Sunday and the sixth medal in total, all coming in weightlifting
He lifted 143kg in snatch and 170kg in clean and jerk to top the field ahead of Malaysia’s Erry Hidayat Muhammad, who took silver with a total of 303kg, while Canada’s S. Darsigny claimed bronze with a total of 298kg.
Favourite to win the event, debutant Sheuli heaved 313kg (143kg+170kg) to grab the gold at NEC Hall here on Sunday.
Malaysia’s Erry Hidayat Muhammad, who gave Sheuli a tough competition, ended up as the second-best lifter in the event. He had the best effort of 303kg (138kg+165kg).
Canada’s Shad Darsigny was third with a total lift of 298kg (135kg+163kg).
“I’m very happy about this, I’ve worked hard for this medal. A lot of sacrifices of my brother, mother, my coach, and the Army have gone into this medal,” Sheuli said after the win.
“This was the first major event in my life and I’m thankful for them to help me reach here. This medal will help me in every aspect of life. There should not be looking back from now on.” Asked to whom he would dedicate his gold medal, Sheuli said, “I wish to dedicate this medal to my late dad (who died of heart attack), my brother and my coach Vjay Sharma who slaps me if I do a mistake, keeps scolding me like I’m his own child.” Sheuli, a junior world championship silver medallist, executed three clean lifts — 137kg, 140kg and 143kg — in the snatch section.
Sheuli, the 20-year-old former tailor from Howrah district of West Bengal, was the favourite in 73kg and took lead from the snatch category itself, lifting 143kg.
In clean and jerk, he started with 165kg in his first attempt, which put him 1kg ahead of the Malaysian.
The Indian youngster failed to lift 170kg in his second attempt before completing it in his third attempt to take his total to 313kg, which is a Commonwealth Games record.
Malaysia’s Muhammad made a desperate but futile effort to lift 175kg to overtake the Indian but was not successful in two attempts, giving Sheuli the gold medal.
(with agency inputs)