Weightlifting: India in full control with three more gold medals

India continued their overwhelming dominance in the weightlifting event of the 12th South Asian Games by bagging three more gold medals on the second day of competitions here on Sunday.

Saraswati Rout (women’s 58 kg), Sambo Lapung (men’s 69 kg) and Ajay Singh (men’s 77 kg) won a gold each  to take India’s medal tally from weightlifting to six gold in two days out of the eight on offer at Bhogeshwari Phukanani Indoor Stadium. Rout brought the first gold of the day, and fourth for India, in women’s 58kg with a total lift of 187 kg (80 kg in snatch + 107 kg clean and jerk). Fullapati Chakma of Bangladesh won the silver by lifting a total of 144 kg (63 kg + 81 kg) while Mohideen Umeria of Sri Lanka got the bronze with 142 kg (61 kg + 81 kg).

Lapung then gave India another gold in men’s 69 kg event in a close contest. After trailing by 5 kg in snatch, the Indian lifted five more kilograms than his Sri Lanka rival M Disanayake in clean and jerk and the two lifters tied on total lift of 281kg. Lapung was adjudged the gold medal winner as his bodyweight (68.8 kg) was lesser by 200 grams than Disanayake (69.00 kg) who won the silver. Sufiyan Abu of Pakistan won the bronze with a total lift of 275 kg (124kg + 151kg).

Youngster Ajay secured the third gold of the day with his personal best effort. Six clear lifts three in snatch and as many in clean and jerk took Ajay to gold with a total lift of 305 kg (136 kg + 169 kg). Chinthana of Sri Lanka won the silver with a total lift of 300 kg and Umar Rasool Lone of Pakistan got the bronze with a total lift of 281 kg.

India had on Saturday won three gold medals on the first day of competitions.