Weightlifter K. Ravi Kumar was placed sixth in group ‘B’ after lifting a total of 303 kg in the men’s 69 kg section at the ExCel Arena on Tuesday.
The 24-year-old Ravi had a 136 kg in snatch and a 167 kg in clean and jerk. He failed twice in his attempt to lift 141 kg in snatch, and it was a similar story in clean and jerk when he could not clear 176 kg twice.
The effort was eight short of Ravi’s career-best of 311 in the Asian championship in Pyoengtaek, Korea, this year where he was placed sixth. In the Asian Games in Guangzhou too, Ravi was sixth with a lift of 311. He finished with the same total in the world championship last year in Paris where he took the 19th spot.
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“I was unwell in the run-up to the competition. That did not allow me to perform to my potential. However, there are no excuses for the way I fared,” said Ravi. “My country will not be happy with my performance but it was a memorable experience to compete in the Olympics.”
Soniya Chanu, the other member of the weightlifting contingent, had finished seventh in the women’s 48 kg event earlier.
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Maiya Maneza secured Kazakhstan’s second gold medal of the Games after patiently biding her time before producing a massive clean and jerk to win the women’s 63 kg class.
Maneza, also the reigning Asian champion, recorded a combined total of 245 kg, a new Olympic record.