India’s elite lifters could not rise to the expectations as Raja Muthupandi (65kg) in men and Sneha Soren (53kg) and Bindyarani Devi (58kg) in women settled for silver medals in the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex, Naranpura, on Tuesday.
Raja, who managed a one kg lead over Papua New Guinea’s Morea Baru and a three kg lead over Malaysia’s double Commonwealth Games champion Aznil Bidin in snatch, saw Baru surging ahead to a total of 292kg with a third clean and jerk attempt of 165kg. However, Bidin lifted 168kg in his second attempt to aggregate 293kg. After failing in his second effort for 167kg, Raja achieved 168kg in his final to total 296kg.
Aznil made a successful jump of four kg to reach his target of 297kg and edge Raja for the gold.
Despite a smooth snatch of 91kg, Commonwealth Games silver medallist Bindyarani trailed Australia’s Tokyo Olympian Kiana Elliott by nine kg. Kiana recorded 112kg in her second of the three back-to-back clean and jerk attempts, leaving Bindyarani to cover 12kg in two efforts. With seven kg left in her final attempt, it was too much for the Indian.
Sneha had a forgettable outing as she totalled 285kg, which was seven kg less than that of youth and junior champion Koyel Bar – who scripted a youth world record.
Anik Modi (238kg) and Yash Khandagale (273kg) claimed men’s 65kg youth and junior crowns respectively.
Bhavana Gogoi (162kg) and Mina Santa (185kg) became women’s 58kg youth and junior champions respectively.
The results:
Men: 65kg: 1. Aznil Bidin (Mas) snatch 125kg, clean and jerk 172kg, total 297kg, 2. Raja Muthupandi 128kg, 168kg, 296kg.
Women: 53kg: 1. Omolola Didih (Ngr) 90kg, 107kg, 197kg, 2. Sneha Soren 81kg, 104kg, 185kg; 58kg: 1. Kiana Elliot (Aus) 100kg, 112kg, 212kg, 2. Bindyarani Devi 91kg, 115kg, 206kg.
Published on Aug 26, 2025
