Thursday, 24 July 2014

Manipuri iron women give India 1st medals - Times of India

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GLASGOW: India started the opening day of the competition in the Commonwealth Games with a dynamic show of strength and skills by two Manipuri women, K Sanjita Chanu and S Mirabai Chanu, who ensured a one-two for the country - a gold medal and a silver respectively in the 48kg category.

It always looked like a two-way race between the two Indian girls. The others were simply fighting for the bronze. Sanjita and Mirabai demolished the field with their gutsy, spirited performance. Of course, it came with a little drama in the end.


With her last lift of 96kg in clean and jerk, Sanjita finished with a total of 173kg. Mirabai needed to do something special - lift 98 kg to lay her hand on the gold. As the legendary Kunjarani Devi, who is accompanying the squad as a coach, looked on, Mirabai went for the kill.


She struggled with the jerk but looked to have maintained the balance as she held on to the barbell and then threw it down and celebrated wildly. However, she was left crestfallen when two out of three referees refused to clear the lift. She had to settle for silver.


It was indeed an intriguing battle between the Indians. After warding off competition from their rivals to ensure the top finish for themselves, they engaged in a fight to the finish. But every time Mirabai came up with a good lift to go ahead, Sanjita went one step ahead to grab the lead.


Nigeria's Nkechi Opara won the bronze with a total lift of 162 kg.


It was a great good start for India in the discipline after the disappointing performance in the last edition in Delhi.


India, a traditional powerhouse in the sport in the Commonwealth Games, had won only two gold medals in the last Games.


"It doesn't matter who won the gold as the gold went to India," an elated Sanjita said. "We are happy to have won the first medals for India."



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