The Hindu : Weightlifting: Vicky clinches gold with record lift

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Dec 16, 2002

Sport

Sport - National Games

Weightlifting: Vicky clinches gold with record lift

By G. Narasimha Rao

Vicky Batta of Punjab who set a meet record to win the gold in the 56-kg event at Visakhapatnam. — Photo: K.R. Deepak .

VISAKHAPATNAM DEC. 15. Vicky Batta of Punjab claimed the gold medal with a record lift in snatch in the men's 56 kg event and host Andhra Pradesh claimed its first medal in the weightlifting competition, a silver, through V. Srinivasa Rao, thanks to a good strategy in the 32nd National Games here on Sunday.

The short and stocky sub-inspector of the Punjab Police, Vicky started with 107.5 kg in snatch, and went on to equal Tamil Nadu lifter T. Muthu's 1999 Games record of 112.5 in his second attempt and set a new mark by clearing 115 kg in his final attempt.

Vicky, a silver medalist in the last Games held in Punjab, attempted to erase Muthu's record of 137.5 kg in clean and jerk, and thereby the record for total lift. He was successful with his first attempt at 130 kg, but failed at 135 kg later. Vicky attempted 140 kg in his final attempt but could not complete the lift. He finished with a total lift of 245 kg.

As Vicky was attempting to set the records, the AP coaches planned Srinivasa Rao's strategy. The other competitor fighting for the silver was V. Murugan of Services who was lesser in body weight. Murugan was 2.5 kg behind the AP lifter in snatch. He was unfortunate not to complete two lifts at 107.5 kg.

Both Srinivasa Rao and Murugan started at 130 kg in clean and jerk but the former was successful in the first attempt. Then Murugan cleared 132.5 kg while Srinivasa Rao failed at this weight. Here the AP coaches put their brains together and scaled down the weight of 137 kg sought for Srinivasa Rao for the final lift, by five kg. Murugan went for 135 kg in his final attempt and when he failed, Srinivasa Rao was assured of a medal but he made it sure that it was a silver by clearing 132.5 kg.

W. Nandini Devi of Manipur, the record holder in the women's 53 kg category, won the gold medal but was not able to create new marks.

She won the gold medal with a total lift of 190 kg, followed by Anita Kumari of Jharkhand (187.5 kg) and Chandra Shouri Devi of Haryana (182.5 kg).

The results: Men: 56 kg: 1. Vicky Batta (Punjab, 115 (NMR), 130 and total 245), 2. V. Srinivasa Rao (AP), 3. V. Murugan (SSCB). (NMR 115 kg in snatch, old record 112.5 kg by T. Muthu of TN in 1999).

Women: 53 kg: 1. Nandini Devi (Manipur, 82.5, 107.5 and 190 kg), 2. Anita Kumari (Jharkhand), 3. Chandra Shouri Devi (Haryana).

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport