Northeast weightlifters’ shines at Commonwealth Games

Northeast is making India proud at Birmingham with weightlifters from the region getting two of the 4 medals in the country’s kitty so far.

While Tokyo Olympics champion Mirabai Chanu gave India its first Gold of the Commonwealth Games, Jeremy Lalrinnunga backed it up with another superb performance to make it 2 gold medals for India.

Another Manipur weightlifter Bindyarani Devi bagged a silver in what came as a triple delight for Manipur, Mizoram, and the Northeast as a whole.

Mirabai Chanu, the star weightlifter from Manipur created a new CWG and national record by lifting 88 kg, thereby bagging India’s first gold medal at Birmingham.

Mirabai lifted a total of 201 kg – 88 kg in snatch and 113 kg in clean and jerk – to create a new CWG record. Mirabai was miles ahead of the competition – in fact, she was a whopping 25kg better than the second-best in the competition.

Meanwhile, another Manipur girl Bindyarani Devi also made India proud by clinching the silver at Birmingham.

Bindyarani Devi eased her way to a silver medal, banking on her lift & jerk prowess to account for her deficit in the snatch. The 23-year-old from Manipur lifted a total of 202 kgs, narrowly missing out on Nigerian Olarinoye’s gold by a sole kilogram.

Bindyarani held her form comfortably for an 81KG snatch. Her rapid second attempt saw her cross 84 kgs. A nervy third lift at 86 kgs saw the referees agree 2-1. She finished the snatch with a four-kgs lead over the opponent in 4th position.

Bidyarani banked on her clean and jerk expertise for a guaranteed medal, listing 105 as the first weight and smashing it.