Greater Noida: The Indian senior weightlifting contingent concluded their impressive campaign at the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships 2023 with an outstanding haul of 18 medals on Sunday. The championships, held at Gautam Buddha University, witnessed India’s weightlifters showcasing their strength and skill, resulting in a medal tally comprising eight golds, eight silvers, and two bronzes.
On the final day of the event, Lovepreet Singh, a bronze medallist at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, claimed a silver medal in the men’s 109kg category. Demonstrating his prowess, Singh lifted a combined weight of 341kg (154kg snatch + 187kg clean and jerk), securing second place. Fiji’s Taniela Rainibogi clinched the gold medal with a total lift of 363kg, while Britain’s Andrew Griffiths settled for the bronze with a lift of 340kg.
In the women’s +87kg category, Purnima Pandey added to India’s medal tally by winning the bronze medal. Pandey lifted a total weight of 227kg (102kg snatch + 125kg clean and jerk) in a commendable performance. Samoa’s Iuniarra Sipaia claimed the gold medal with a lift of 262kg, while her compatriot Lesila Fiapule secured the silver with a total lift of 250kg.
The final day’s achievements helped India surpass their medal count from the previous edition of the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships. In 2021, Indian weightlifters won a total of 16 medals, consisting of four golds, seven silvers, and five bronzes, at the championships held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
While the focus was on the senior category, it’s important to note that Indian weightlifters also showcased their talents in the junior and youth events. However, prominent weightlifters such as Mirabai Chanu, Achinta Sheuli, and Bindyarani Devi, who are bound for the Asian Games 2023, did not compete in this particular event.
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