Weightlifter Gurdeep Singh lands bronze in Commonwealth Games

Birmingham, August 4

Punjab’s Gurdeep Singh rounded off India’s weightlifting campaign with a bronze medal in the 109kg event at the Commonwealth Games here on Wednesday.

The-26-year-old Gurdeep, son of a farmer, had a

best effort of 390kg (167kg 223kg) for a podium finish and India’s first-ever medal in the heavyweight category.

With his 223kg clean and jerk effort, Gurdeep bettered his own national record. “I had a wrist injury so couldn’t give my best in snatch, otherwise I would have landed a silver,” said the seven-time national champion.

The gold went to Pakistan’s Muhammad Nooh Butt for his Games record-breaking lift of 405kg (173kg 232kg). New Zealand’s David Andrew Liti clinched the silver for his effort of 394kg (170kg 224kg).

Gurdeep, who hails from Majri Rasluri village near Khanna, wasn’t off to the best of starts as he fluffed his first snatch attempt of 167kg. He managed to lift the weight in his second try. However, he failed in his third attempt of 173kg. Entering the clean and jerk in the joint third spot, Gurdeep started with a 207kg lift. There were some nervous moments for the Indian as he failed his second attempt of 215kg. But Gurdeep increased the weight by eight kilogrammes and lifted it successfully to register 223kg. India ended its weightlifting campaign with 10 medals — three gold, three silver and four bronze.