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India lifters end day on an embarrassing note
If India's performance at the weightlifting competition at the Commonwealth Games began on a little disappointing note, it finished on a rather embarrassing one.
If India's performance at the weightlifting competition at the Commonwealth Games began on a little disappointing note, it finished on a rather embarrassing one.
On Monday, India's Sarabjit failed to complete his 105+kg category event for bronze. But the saving grace came in the form of the Trafalcar trophy that is awarded to the best team in the competition.
Sarabjit's first snatch yielded 162 kg followed by 166 kg and then 169 kg. But later he failed to lift 210 kg and 211 kg in his three clean and jerk attempts and went out of the medal race.
Overall, India have won eight medals, including two gold, one less than their haul in Melbourne in 2006. Team coach Harnam Singh said: "We were expecting 11 medals but on the first day Soniya lost the gold and then Chandrakant lost a bronze on the basis of excess body weight. Shristi, a medal hope in 53 kg, too got injured."
Australia won the 105+kg gold in Monday's competition after Kelly Damon (149.06 kg) was found lighter than Nauruan counterpart Ltte Detenamo (151.90 kg) by 1.84 kg. Damon set a Games record by lifting 221 kg in clean and jerk. Both of them, however, finished on the same total of 397 kg.
