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India draws a blank in weightlifting

October 06, 2010 01:56 am | Updated 01:57 am IST - NEW DELHI:

Impressive: Though he never looked to be in contention at the start, Jumith Aricco of Malaysia put in a strong performance to claim the 62 kg category gold in weightlifting. Photo: K. Ananthan

India went without a medal on the second day of the Commonwealth Games weightlifting competition here on Tuesday at Jawaharlal Nehru Sports Complex.

The two Indian entries, Rustam Sarang and Omkar Shekhar Otari, finished a disappointing fourth and fifth respectively in the men's 62 kg weight category. Swati Singh, competing in women's 53 kg class, also ended fourth.

Malaysian National champion Aricco Jumitih, and compatriot Naharudin Mahayudin gave their country a one-two finish in the men's 62 kg weight category. Favourite Marilou Prevost Dozois of Canada won gold in the ladies event with a total lift of 182.

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Onyeka Azike of Nigeria (180) and Raihan Yusoff of Malaysia (175) took the other medals.

Sri Lankan Anton Sudesh Peiris Kurukulasooriyage spoiled the Indian party by pipping the home team favourite Rustam Sarang for the bronze medal in his final attempt of the championship.

Otari and Mahayudin were the early leaders after the snatch event. Both cleared 125 kg in the final attempt. Neither the eventual gold nor the bronze medal winner was in picture till the clean and jerk event commenced.

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It was Otari who went out of the contention first clearing only 140 kg in his final attempt in the clean and jerk before failing to clear 145 in next two attempts.

Despite the Malaysians waltzing to the top two positions, Sarang remained in picture for a medal with a clearance of 145 and 150 in his first two efforts. The Sri Lankan failed to lift 145 and then 152 in his two attempts but managed with great difficulty to hoist 152 in his final attempt.

Sarang needed to lift 153 to take the bronze but his lift was declared ‘no lift' as the crestfallen Indian returned to the warm-up area.

Combodian-born Australian Vannara Be ended eighth and former Cameroon lifter Daniel Koum Koum, current Australian National champion, was sixth. Jasvir Singh of Canada did not finish the competition as he fouled all the three clean and jerk efforts.

The biggest shock was hot favourite Dimitris Minasidis of Cyprus, current snatch Games record holder who came into this championship with a top total lift of 288 kg finishing a disappointing 10th.

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