Commonwealth Games: India has been the second most successful country in terms of weightlifting

Indian Weightlifters in Commonwealth Games: The Commonwealth Games have always proved to be extremely successful for Indian weightlifters. Here Indian weightlifters have won a total of 125 medals so far, including 43 gold medals. This number of medals makes India the second most successful country in Commonwealth Games weightlifting after Australia (159 medals).

There have been three occasions in the Commonwealth Games, when the Indian team has also been at number one in terms of winning medals in weightlifting. In the Commonwealth Games of 1990, 2002 and 2018 Indian weightlifters won the most medals as compared to other countries. In the last Commonwealth Games held in Gold Cast, India got a total of 9 medals including 5 gold in this event. Similar performance is expected from Indian weightlifters this time too.

This time a team of 15 weightlifters is being sent from India in the Commonwealth Games. And everyone has the potential to win medals. Olympic silver medalist Mirabai Chanu is a confirmed candidate for a medal in the women’s 49kg category. Along with her, Bindiyarani (55kg), Poppy (59kg) will try her luck.

Youth Olympics gold medalist Jeremy Lalrinnunga (67kg) also has hopes of winning gold. Achinta Sheuli (73kg) and Ajay Singh (81kg) are also said to be contenders to win the title in their respective events.

Vijay Sharma, head coach of the Indian weightlifters team, says that this time our target in the Commonwealth Games is to bring more medals than last time. Hopefully we will bring 4 to 5 gold this time.

Indian Weightlifters Team:
woman: Mirabai Chanu (49kg), Bindiyarani Devi (55kg), Poppy Hazarika (59kg), Harjinder Kaur (71kg), Poonam Yadav (76kg), Usha Kumari (87kg), Poornima Pandey (+87kg)

Male: Sanket Sagar (55kg), Gururaja Pujari (61kg), Jeremy Lalrinnunga, Achinta Sheuli (73kg), Ajay Singh (81kg), Vikas Thakur (96kg), Lovepreet Singh (109kg), Gurdeep Singh (+109 kg)