The lifters have been star performances for India at the 2022 Commonwealth Games so far, and the streak continued for the third day as 20-year-old Achinta Shuli broke a Games record by lifting a total of 313kg to clinch the gold medal in the men’s 73kg grade.
Shuli broke the Games record for the first time by lifting 140kg and 143kg twice in the snatch round. He then set a Games record for the overall weight by lifting 166 kg and 170 kg in the clean and jerk matches.
A strong contender to win the competition, Shuli won the gold medal by lifting 313 kg (143 kg 170 kg) at the NEC Hall on Sunday.
Eri Hidayat Muhammad of Malaysia, who gave a tough fight to Shuli, finished as the second-best lifter in the event. His best effort was 303 kg (138 kg 165 kg). Canada’s Shad Darsigny finished third with a total weight of 298 kg (135 kg (163 kg).
Shuli, a junior World Championships silver medalist, executed three clean lifts – 137kg, 140kg and 143kg – in the snatch category.
His 143kg effort helped him break the Games record and improve his personal best. Entering clean and jerk with a gain of five kilograms, the Kolkata-based lifter started lifting 166kg, which he hoisted quickly.
Shuli then stumbled in his 170 kg effort, only to increase the weight on his third attempt and set a new game record in the total lift (313 kg).
The Indian lifter had to wait patiently till the end to find out which medal he would take home as the Malaysian attempted to lift 176kg in his last two attempts but was unsuccessful.