Mizoram teenager Jeremy Lalrinnunga rewrites two Games records on way to India's second weightlifting gold

Birmingham, July 31

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Jeremy Lalrinnunga endured excruciating pain on his way to a sensational gold medal winning performance at the Commonwealth Games as the teen sensation shattered two CWG weightlifting records here today.

The reigning Youth Olympics champion first bettered the snatch mark with a successful 140kg attempt and then lifted 160kg in clean and jerk to take his aggregate to 300kg, which is a new Games record in the men’s 67kg competition.

A 7kg difference from his nearest rival, Samoa’s Vaipava Ioane (127kg+166kg), summed up the dominance of the 19-year-old, who had won a historic gold at the Youth Olympics in 2018. Nigeria’s Edidiong Umoafia took bronze with an effort of 290kg (130kg+160kg).

This was India’s fifth medal, and second gold, from the weightlifting arena.

Watched on by her idol Mirabai Chanu, Jeremy dominated the snatch but the stiff competition in clean and jerk made it a thrilling contest. Adding to the tension, he suffered cramps during a clean and jerk effort as pulled his thigh and hamstring muscles.

“I completely blanked out and was clueless what was going on around me. I was like blind and cried a lot (after the failed attempt),” Jeremy said. “I never followed the other lifts, it was so painful. I asked the coach if I won a medal, and when he told me about the gold, it soothed my nerves,” he added.

“It seems I’m living a dream. It’s my first major competition at the senior level after the Youth Olympics,” he added.

In the absence of Pakistan’s Talha Talib, who is suspended due to doping, Jeremy hardly faced any compeition in the snatch. He took a 10kg cushion leading into the clean and jerk. Jeremy’s best lift in clean and jerk was still 6kg below his personal best but it was good enough for the Games record.

Jeremy had won back-to-back silver medals in the 56kg category at the World Youth Championships in 2016 and 2017.

Jeremy admitted that the difficulty level will increase once he makes a transition to the Olympics weight category of 73kg. “I now know it’s at a different level. I’ve a lot to improve and the most difficult part is to gain weight. If all goes well and I stay injury-free, then I should be there for the Paris Olympics,” he said.

On Saturday, Bidyarani Devi won the silver medal in the women’s 55kg category. Bidyarani lifted a total of 202kg (86kg+116kg), while setting the Games record in clean and jerk. Nigeria’s Adijat Olarinoye won gold with a total lift of 203kg (92kg+111kg). England’s Fraer Morrow won bronze with 198kg (89kg+109kg).

Popy Hazarika finished a disappointing seventh in the women’s 59kg event today, the Assam lifter managing 183kg (81kg+102kg). — PTI