Finance
Mirabai Chanu, one of India’s top gold medal prospects, delivered the country’s first gold medal in the women’s 49kg weightlifting final at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022. Chanu, who won gold in Gold Coast four years ago, not only successfully defended her title by lifting 201kgs (88kg in snatch and 113kg in clean and jerk), but also set a Games record. Chanu’s efforts earned India its third medal of the day, all in weightlifting, after Sanket Sargar took silver and Gururaja Poojary took bronze in their respective events.
The difference in weight between Chanu and silver medalist Marie Ranaivosoa of Mauritius was a massive 29kgs, indicating how dominant her performance was.
Bindyarani Devi won silver in the women’s 55kg final, giving India its fourth medal of the day and continuing the country’s love affair with weightlifting at the Commonwealth Games 2022. Bindyarani joined the list a few hours after champion Mirabai Chanu won the first gold medal for India at CWG 2022, to go with a silver from Sanket Sargar and a bronze from Gururaja Poojary (86kg in snatch and 116kg in Clean & Jerk). Bindyarani not only won her first CWG medal, but also set a personal best, national record, and Commonwealth Games record in Clean & Jerk with her 116kg lift. Adijat Adenike Olarinoye of Nigeria won gold with 203 kg (92 + 111), while Fraer Morrow of England finished with 198kg to win bronze.
Bindyarani, who had previously won medals in weightlifting competitions, now has a CWG medal to show for her efforts. Bindyarani previously won a gold medal in the Clean & Jerk event at the World Weightlifting Championships in 2021. She also managed to lift 84kg in snatch for a total of 198kg, placing her fourth overall. Her other achievements include gold and silver medals at the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships in 2019 and 2021.
