Raring to go, Jeremy Lalrinnunga looks to lift spirits

New Delhi, July 25

Advertisement

Missing out on the Tokyo Olympics last year made him realise that the transition from junior to senior level is not easy, says the Youth Olympics champion weightlifter Jeremy Lalrinnunga as he aims to clinch the coveted gold at the upcoming Commonwealth Games.

After a torrid year that saw him suffer two injuries and contract Covid, Jeremy is all rejuvenated and prepared to do what it takes to succeed at the senior level, starting with the multi-sport event in Birmingham.

“It’s my first CWG and I’m feeling great. After the Youth Olympics this is going to be the biggest competition for me after four years as I had missed out on the Olympics,” said Jeremy, who competes in the 67kg category.

Jeremy had burst onto the scene in 2018 when he became the first Indian to win a gold medal at the Youth Olympics, held in Buenos Aires.

The Mizoram lifter was touted as one for the future as he had managed to shatter youth world records, but his performance at the senior level has left a lot to be desired. “I understood that I have to work much harder because the total that I was lifting was not good enough,” he said.

Hard times

The past one year has been tough for the 19-year-old. At the Asian Championships, he finished a disappointing eighth.

It was later revealed that he had some problem in his knee, which also affected his performance at the Junior World Championships. “There was a problem in my knee tendon. Water filled up behind it. I had to undergo surgery for that,” he shared.