India finally opened their account in the Commonwealth Games 2022 as Sanket Mahadev Sargar brought home a silver medal in Men’s 55 kg weightlifting. The entire nation is overjoyed with Sargar’s achievement as congratulatory messages have been pouring in for the silver medallist on social media. Sargar ended up lifting a total weight of 248kg as he finished in the second spot.
The 21-year-old was close to winning a Gold medal as well but he got injured during one of his attempts in the clean and jerk round. He came back to have another brave attempt despite being injured but couldn’t give his best as his injury hindered his body movements. There was a difference of just 1kg in total weight between him and the Gold Medallist Mohammad Aniq of Malaysia
The 21-year-old topped the snatch attempt by levelling his national record of 113kg and followed it up with 135 kg in the clean and jerk round. The sliver medallist made amends for his disappointing show at the 2021 World Championships and clinched a stunning silver in Birmingham. The young athlete easily outperformed others as he had a lead of six kgs over his adversaries at the end of the snatch round before extending his lead in the clean and jerk round.
Sanket who has been a three-time national champion has worked really hard to become eligible for the Commonwealth Games 2022. The young weightlifter broke the Commonwealth and national record in 2021 at the Singapore Weightlifting Meet when he lifted 256 kg in total (113 kg+143 kg). He also clinched the gold medal at the Senior Nationals in 2022. The national record holder hails from a humble background and helps out in his father’s paan shop and food stall in Sangli, Maharashtra.
India has finally bagged their first success at the grand event and with more athletes to contest in various events today, the nation has high expectations from all of them. Mirabai Chanu is also set to contest in the 49 kg women’s category in Weighlifting later today at 8:00 pm. The Olympic silver medallist will be raring to go hoping to add another feather in her cap today.
The sport of weightlifting has fetched the second most number of medals for India at the CWG with a total of 126 medals which includes 43 Gold, 49 Silver and 34 Bronze medals.
India finished third in the last edition of the Commonwealth Games in 2018 in Gold Coast, Australia. The best-ever performance by the Indian contingent came in the 2010 edition of the event as hosts when they finished in the second spot.
