CWG 2018: Proving mettle with medals

MIRABAI CHANU Gold, women’s 48kg weightlifting

After a terrific start to the Games by Mirabai Chanu, who won India her first gold in the women’s 48kg weightlifting on 5 April, other sportsmen of team India are following suit. The Manipuri powerhouse left the competition far behind by setting Games and Commonwealth records in the snatch, clean and jerk as well as the total. She registered 86kg in the snatch and 110kg in clean and jerk for a total of 196kg.

Chanu broke six records in each of her six attempts in the competition, obliterating the previous Games record of 175kg set by Nigeria’s Augustina Nwaokolo at the 2010 edition by a considerable distance.

Despite a tough life, the 23-year-old from Imphal East district has fought hard to achieve her current status. Inspired by India’s weightlifting icon Kunjarani Devi, who also hails from her native Manipur, Chanu took to the sport in 2007 and has not looked back since. Her win has prompted the people of Manipur to demand a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) post for her so she could stay in the state. Chanu is currently employed by the Indian Railways.

Congratulating the lifter, Chief Minister

N. Biren Singh said, “With her spectacular performance, Mirabai has done the country and Manipur proud. She is a true Manipuri.”

He has declared a cash prize of Rs. 15 lakh for the lifter.

Former Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh said all Indians are proud of her performance.

“During my tenure, boxer M.C. Mary Kom was promoted to Superintendent of Police (SP). We had also constructed a sports complex in all districts... Being a poor state we gave sportspersons all we could with our limited resources.”

SANJITA CHANU Gold, women’s 53kg weightlifting

Sanjita Chanu landed India its second gold medal in the 53kg weightlifting category. Hailing from remote Umathel Kakching village in Kakching district of Manipur, Sanjita took to weightlifting in 2006. But her path was always a difficult one as the 24-year-old was dogged by poverty and lack of facilities throughout her growing-up years.

With five children to look after, Sanjita’s parents were hard pressed to meet all her expenses from their meagre resources. Her mother Leima said she used to work hard from morning to night to meet Sanjita’s needs and also encouraged her to push harder during training.

“Being a poor family, we could hardly afford nutritious food for the sports girl. Time and again she asked me whether she should give up her first love of sports. But I always replied that she should continue doing the exercises. I ran from pillar to post to provide her food and other items for her exercise,” Leima said.

She was the victim of official apathy as well. The Manipur government offered her the post of a police constable after she won gold in the women’s 48 kg category at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, but the family regarded this as an affront. Leima said she exhorted Sanjita to reply to the perceived slight in the best way possible - winning more medals at domestic and international tournaments. And that’s what the Manipuri star, who won her second Commonwealth Games gold, did. Chief Minister N. Biren Singh has declared a cash prize of Rs. 15 lakh for Sanjita as well.

WOMEN’S TABLE TENNIS Gold, singles & doubles

The Indian women’s table tennis team was by far the best surprise since the Games began last week. Manika Batra shocked the Singapore team that has never lost in the Commonwealth Games since the sport was inducted in the program way back in 2002. The doubles pair of Mouma Das and Madhurika Patkar also won gold against defending champs of Singapore.

MANU BHAKER Gold, women’s 10m air pistol

Haryana’s 16-year-old Bhaker produced a spectacular performance, setting a new CWG record with a total of 240.9 points in the final round on 8 April. Bhaker was in fine form coming into her maiden CWG appearance, having won 10m air pistol and 10m air pistol mixed event gold medals at the ISSF World Cup earlier this year in Mexico.

“I am very happy... it is my first Commonwealth Games and I won with a qualification record also. The gap between me and the second competitor, that was a huge margin. So it was a pleasure winning this medal for India and I am very, very happy,” Bhaker said.

Bhaker’s father, Ram Kishan Bhaker said she has never returned empty-handed from any tournament. Delighted at the 16-year- old’s feat, the senior Bhaker said, “It is easy to boast after a win. But the truth is she never returned empty-handed from any tournament, whether it was the school or national level.”

He added that he had always encouraged the youngster to enjoy her game and play freely without bothering about the outcome.

“Before leaving for Gold Coast, I asked her to enjoy her game and not worry about the result. Winning and losing are part of any sport,” he said.

On being asked if he found Manu under any kind of pressure ahead of her debut in the Commonwealth Games on Sunday, Ram replied in the negative.

“She never takes pressure and always plays freely. She just focusses on each shot rather than the whole game. Her main focus is on bettering her effort in each shot,” he said. Opening up on his plans of celebrating the gold medal effort, Ram said: “There will be grand celebrations once Manu returns to her native in Goria, Haryana.”

PUNAM YADAV Gold, women’s 69kg weightlifting

Punam’s gold also meant that the country has five gold medals in an edition of the CWG for the first time. The 22-year-old lifted a total of 222 kg which included 100 kg in snatch and 122 kg in clean and jerk.

JITU RAI Gold, men’s 10m air-pistol

The Nepal-born shooter, who was a 50m pistol gold medallist at the 2014 Glasgow CWG, clinched gold for India on 9 April at the Games. He also made the final of the same event at the Rio Olympics where he finished eighth.

Other gold medallists include weightlifter Venkat Rahul Ragala (men’s 85 kg category) and Satish Kumar Sivalingam (men’s 77kg category).

HEENA SIDHU Silver, women’s 10m air pistol

Experienced Sidhu registered 234 points to make it 1-2 for India at the top of the podium. It was her first medal at the CWG. She made her CWG debut in 2010 New Delhi edition.

During the qualifications, Bhaker topped the qualification stage with a total of 388 points. Sidhu qualified at the second spot with 379 points.

PARDEEP SINGH Silver, 105kg, men’s weightlifting

On April 9, Pardeep Singh claimed a silver medal in the 105kg men’s weightlifting event. Singh, who started off as a teacher at a government school in his village in Punjab, started off uncertain but gained momentum in the second attempt.

P GURURAJ Silver, men’s 56kg men’s weightlifting

Weightlifter P Gururaja opened India’s medal account on the first competition day, claiming a silver in the men’s 56kg category.

RAVI KUMAR Bronze, men’s 10m air rifle

Ravi’s bronze medal in the 10m air rifle event ensured that India bagged its third medal on the opening day of the shooting competitions. He shot a total of 224.1 to finish behind Australian Dane Sampson (245) and Bangladesh’s Abdullah Hel Baki (244.7), who won the gold and silver, respectively, at the Belmont Shooting Centre. He had taken bronze in this event at last month’s International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup in Guadalajara, Mexico, as well.

VIKAS THAKUR Bronze, men’s 94kg weightlifting

India’s Vikas Thakur took bronze in the men’s 94kg category of the weightlifting competition at the 21st Commonwealth Games. Thakur registered a total of 351 kg which included 159 kg in snatch and 192 kg in clean and jerk. Thakur, who had taken silver in the 85 kg division at the 2014 CWG in Glasgow, Scotland, registered some of his best lifts in international competition.

DEEPAK LATHER Bronze, men’s 69kg weightlifting

The 18-year-old from Haryana made news by becoming the youngest Indian weightlifter to claim a Commonwealth Games medal. This is the youngster’s first ever CWG medal. Interestingly, Lather trained as a diver at the Army Sports Institute but was coaxed into trying his hand at weightlifting by his coaches.

OM MITHARWAL (Bronze, 10m air-pistol)

While Jitu Rai won a gold in the same event, Mitharwal trailed with a bronze medal. He finished first in the qualification round after shooting 584 points to equal the Commonwealth Games record.

WHAT’S TO COME

The doubles pair of Sathiyan Gnanasekaran and Harmeet Desai have taken the lead in the men’s table tennis event against Singapore’s Xue Jie Pang and Shao Feng Ethan Poh. Sathiyan will now go up against Ning Gao in the singles match.

Hima Das, who’s participating in her first 400m international competition at the Games, has qualified for the semi-finals in the event.

Five-time world champ MC Mary Kom has assured herself of a medal at the Games this year by making her way to the semifinals of the boxing event. Although ecstatic about a confirmed medal, she is confident of winning gold.

Saina Nehwal performed brilliantly against Singapore on 7 April to breeze through to the badminton mixed team event finals. The women’s hockey team are one to watch, after their stunning victory over Olympic champions England in its third Pool A match of the 21st Commonwealth Games on 8 April.

Ians