JOIN USMighty Services continue gold rush
In the 69 kg class, Ram Babu lifted a maximum of 120 kg in snatch to start off his campaign on a strong note. However, there was a keen tussle between Babu, Karnataka’s Naveen Chandra and Tamil Nadu’s SK Manikandan in clean and jerk.
Babu had a maximum of 145 kg in clean and jerk after failing in his second and third attempts at 148 kg. Chandra in a determined effort, muscled in 146 kg after failing in his first and second attempts to lift 140 kg and 146 kg respectively.
At the end of the keenly fought clean and jerk tussle, Babu won the gold medal with a total of 265 kg (120 kg, 145 kg), thanks to his overwhelming display in snatch. Naveen Chandra grabbed the silver metalwith a total of 260 kg (114 kg, 146 kg). Manikandan bagged the bronze medal lifting 115 kg in snatch and then hoisting 145 kg in clean and jerk.
The 21-year-old Chandra, who hails from Mangalore, was understandably happy with his performance. “I was targeting the gold but fell short of achieving that,’’ said Chandra who trains at the Army Sports Institute, Pune. Chandra had skipped the recent National Games as he was down with a back injury.
In the 77 kg class, Commonwealth Games gold medallist Ravi Kumar showed why he is a cut above the rest. The 22-year-old from Orissa lifted 138 kg in snatch, leaving him comfortably ahead of the rest of the pack. He then lifted 168 kg in clean and jerk to tally 306 kg for the gold, well ahead of S Sathish Kumar of Tamil Nadu who won the silver with a total of 295 kg (132 kg, 163 kg).
“I was hoping to break my personal best or at least touch it but that didn’t happen. Now, I will train hard for 10 days to get ready for the Asian Championships in China next month,’’ said Ravi Kumar who also trains at ASI, Pune and shares his birthday with Sachin Tendulkar.
Results: Men -- 69 kg: Ram Babu (Services), 265 kg (Snatch 120 kg, clean and jerk 145 kg) 1; Naveen Chandra (Kar), 260 kg (114 kg, 146 kg) 2; SK Manikandan (TN), 260 kg (115 kg, 145 kg) 3.
77 kg: K Ravi Kumar (Services), 306 kg (138 kg, 168 kg) 1; S Sathish Kumar (TN), 295 kg (132 kg, 163 kg) 2; Gaurav Dubey (UP), 291 kg (130 kg, 161 kg) 3.
Women -- 69 kg: MP Kom (Del), 180 kg (82 kg, 98 kg) 1; K Krishna Kumari (Del), 177 kg (78 kg, 99 kg) 2; Anita Shinde (Chattisgarh), 173 kg (75 kg, 98 kg) 3.