Commonwealth Games gold medallist in the men's 69kg category, Katulu Ravi Kumar of Services set a Games record in the clean and jerk event of the 34th National Games weightlifting competition at Jamshedpur on Wednesday.
Ravi Kumar lifted 166kg to improve upon the previous best of 165 in the name of G. Vadivelu of Services set in 2002. Ravi Kumar lifted 120kg in snatch for a total of 286 to win the gold.
Punjab and Bengal will play in the final of the football competition. Having ended second best in their group, they managed to turn the tables on their opponents with a solid display.
Punjab soaked in the intense pressure from a fit Services side to score the match winner through Brajinder Pal Singh's 42nd minute strike. Bengal staved off a stiff challenge from Goa and sneaked in a 72nd minute goal by Snehasis Dutta for the match clincher. After a day of rest, the final will be held on Friday.
Punjab and Haryana picked up two golds each on the opening day of the judo competition. The other gold went to Delhi.
On the opening day of the modern archery where qualification and elimination processes were gone through, Commonwealth Games' gold medallist Rahul Banerjee of Bengal, Beijing Olympian V. Pranitha representing Chhattisgarh and another India star Punya Prabha of Uttar Pradesh were sent packing from the individual recurve events.
In the compound section, another CWG medallist and top seed Ch. Jignas of Services in the men's division, India stars Vrushali Gorle and Sarikonda Jayalakshmi of Maharashtra in the distaff side were eliminated by lesser known players.
The results: Weightlifting: Men: 69 kg: 1. K. Ravi Kumar (Ser) 120, 166 (NMR, old 165 by G. Vadivelu (Ser, 2002) - 286, 2. Rambabu Pasah (AP) 118, 145 – 263. 77kg: 1. Kandan (Goa) 123, 158 – 281, 2. G. Vadivelu (MP) 126, 155 – 281, 3. Sudheer Kumar (Ser) 129, 151 – 280.
Women: 58kg: 1. Sunibala Devi (Mnp) 78, 102 – 180, 2. Premeshori Devi (Jhr) 80, 99 – 179, 3. Chandrashori Devi (Ker) 79, 97 – 176. 63kg: 1. H. Poireinganbi Chanu (Jhr) 83, 100 – 183, 2. K. Reena (Har) 79, 96 – 175, 3. G. Aruna Rani (AP) 79, 96 – 175.
