Commonwealth Games: Ragala Venkat Rahul wins gold in men’s 85kg weightlifting

Weightlifter Ragala Venkat Rahul won India’s fourth gold medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast when he won the men’s 85kg title on Saturday

Ragala Venkat Rahul won India’s fourth gold medal at the ongoing 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast on Saturday when he clinched the men’s 85kg title. (CWG 2018 live updates)

Ragala Venkat Rahul in action during the men’s 85kg weightlifting event at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast on Saturday. (REUTERS)

The 21-year-old Rahul, who is a Commonwealth Championships gold-medallist, lifted a total of 338kg (151kg+187kg) to finish on top.

He was locked in a close battle with Samoa’s Don Opeloge, who ended with a total of 331kg (151kg+180kg).

Both the lifters opted for 191kg as their final clean and jerk lift and both of them failed but Rahul clinched the top prize owing to Opeloge’s failed second attempt at a 188kg lift.

Had Opologe managed a good final lift, Rahul would have ended with a silver as he had already fouled his third attempt.

In the Commonwealth Championships last year, Rahul had lifted a total of 351kg (156kg+195kg).

(With agency inputs)