New Delhi: Host India kick-started their medal hunt on a promising note as they earned a total of four medals – two silvers and a couple of bronzes- all from the Weight Lifting finals on the opening day of the competition at Jawaharlal Nehru stadium here on Monday.
Soniya Chanu and Sandhya Rani Devi bagged the first two medals in Clean and jerkedals for the country in the games, winning the silver and bronze in women’s 46 kg category respectively.
While Soniya lifted 76 kg in snatch and 103 kg in clean and jerk to total 167 kg, Sandhya Rani lifted 73 kg in snatch and 97 kg in clean and jerk totaling 165 kg.
The gold in this category went to Austina Nkem Nwanaokolo from Nigeria who lifted a combined weight of 175 kg which is a new games record.
The other two silver and bronze medals were won by Sukhen Dey and V S Rao respectively in men’s 56 kg weight.
Sukhen lifted a total of 252 kg (snatch 112 kg and clean and jerk 112 kg) to emerge second after Amirul Hamizan Ibrahim who claimed the gold lifting a total weight of 257 kg (snatch 118 kg , clean and jerk 141 kg).
Lifter V S Rao gave the fourth medal to India finishing third behind Sukhen Dey.
Rao could lift a total weight of 248 kg ( snatch 109 and clean and jerk 146 kg).
India is expected to garner some more medals in other weight categories, both in men and women's section of weight-lifting.