Picture : Twitter/ ANI
Partially fulfilling the promise he made to himself four years back, young weightlifter Sanket Sargar won a silver medal in the men’s 55kg category, putting India on the medal tally at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham .
He targetted a gold medal but injured his right elbow while attempting to lift 139kg in clean and jerk to eventually settle for a second place.
The 21-year-old managed a total of 248kg (113kg+135kg) to finish just one kilogram behind Malaysia’s Mohamad Aniq, who smashed the Games record in clean and jerk as he lifted 249kg (107kg+142kg) to win the gold.
Sri Lanka’s Dilanka Isuru Kumara 225kg (105kg+120kg) took home the bronze.
Sargar’s efforts did not go unnoticed, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the young athlete.
“Exceptional effort by Sanket Sargar! His bagging the prestigious Silver is a great start for India at the Commonwealth Games. Congratulations to him and best wishes for all future endeavours,” Modi tweeted.
Exceptional effort by Sanket Sargar! His bagging the prestigious Silver is a great start for India at the Commonwealth Games. Congratulations to him and best wishes for all future endeavours. pic.twitter.com/Pvjjaj0IGm
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 30, 2022
Anurag Thakur, Youth Affairs And Sports Minister
#SanketSargar opens India’s Medal account with a Silver (248 kg) in Men’s 55 kg weightlifting at #B2022 #CWG2022. Missed the 🥇 by a whisker, but India is really proud of you.
Congratulations Sanket!#Cheer4India pic.twitter.com/Eja85O1zkx
— Anurag Thakur (@ianuragthakur) July 30, 2022
