Gold Coast, April 7: India continued its dominant show in weightlifting as male lifters won two gold medals on the third day of the ongoing Commonwealth Games 2018 here on Saturday (April 7).
Venkat Rahul Ragala became the fourth Indian weightlifter to claim a gold medal, coming out trumps in a tense contest in the 85 kg category.
Earlier in the day, defending champion Sathish Sivalingam (77kg) claimed country's third gold medal.
| Day 2 Wrap-Up" />CWG Medal Tally | Day 2 Wrap-Up
Sivalingam came out tops comfortably despite having given up podium hopes after his injured thighs made even routine things like sitting painful. The 25-year-old Indian lifted a total 317kg (144kg+173kg) and was so ahead of the competition that he forfeited his final clean and jerk lift.
The 21-year-old Rahul, who is a Commonwealth Championships gold-medallist, lifted a total of 338kg (151kg+187kg) to finish on top. The Indian was locked in a close battle with Samoa's Don Opeloge, who ended with a total of 331kg (151kg+180kg).
🆈🅴🆂 🅸🆃 🅸🆂!!#VenkatRahulRagala of #TeamIndia lifts a total of 338kgs in the Men's 85kg #GC2018Weightlifting to earn yet another 🥇 Gold Medal for India in #Weightlifting! #Congratulations Champ! pic.twitter.com/sijEzY81Fa
— IOA - Team India (@ioaindia) April 7, 2018
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).
Sathish, after his medal ceremony during which he was accorded a warm applause by the packed arena, said, "I had no hopes of winning a medal after I injured my thighs during the National Championships while attempting 194kg in clean and jerk. It's a quadriceps problem, even now I am competing at less than ideal fitness but I am glad that was enough to get me a gold."
A bright start of #day3 by #SatishSivlingam @GC2018 . Brings home third Gold medal for India in men's 77 kg by lifting 317Kg in all. 🥇
— Dept of Sports MYAS (@IndiaSports) April 7, 2018
Congratulations!! 🎉🎉#RangDeTiranga 🇮🇳#CWG2018 #GC2018Weightlifting #GC2018 pic.twitter.com/ebVrZaY7QF
"I was in so much pain that even sitting was very painful for me. Everyone took care of me, gave me hope but I was not very confident. I had not trained that hard and my body was not at its best, and so how could I hope for a medal," added the Tamil Nadu lifter.
It was a fascinating contest of one-upmanship between Sathish and eventual silver-medallist Jack Oliver of England in the snatch competition. The two kept upping the weights before their attempts but Oliver kept his nose ahead at the end of snatch as he lifted 145kg in his second attempt.
And another early morning gift for us, a golden start to the day. Congratulations #SathishSivalingam on our third #GC2018Weightlifting Gold in Men's 77kg, lifting 317kg. Great effort despite the hamstring injury. His second successive gold after the one in Glasgow. #CWG2018 pic.twitter.com/18vDzPVLtr
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) April 7, 2018
It was a kilogram more than Satish's final attempt. However, Satish had the last laugh quite comfortably in clean and jerk after Oliver failed two attempts of 171kg and settled for a total of 312kg (145kg+167kg). The bronze medal went to Australian showman Francois Etoundi, who lifted 305kg (136kg+169kg) and collapsed clutching his injured shoulder after his final lift.
"I got lucky there, had he (Oliver) not dropped those weights, I would have had to go higher and I am not sure how my body would have taken that. I am quite relieved actually," the Indian said.
At the 2014 Commonwealth Games, Sathish won the gold medal with 149kg snatch and 179kg clean and jerk lifts, totalling 328kg. His lift of 149kg in snatch continues to be the Games record.
"I didn't want to touch that level because I still need to undergo rehabilitation. The fact that the access to our physio was limited made it all the more difficult. I just hope that we get a physio with us at the Asian Games," said Sathish, once again highlighting the problems the weightlifters are facing due to the lack of accessibility of the physio in the competition area.
Sathish is also the reigning Commonwealth Championships gold-medallist.
"I hope to do even better in the Asian Games because there is a gap now. Earlier Asian Games used to come within 20-25 days of CWG, which didn't give us enough time to prepare. But this time I have got time to prepare and be fully fit now," he said.
(With inputs from PTI)