Gurdeep loses gold; Binitha tops

Gurdeep, who won the gold in the men’s 105 kg class, was stripped off the yellow metal after the officials were intimated about his failure to get the reinstatement dope test done after his return from a doping ban.

He had tested positive for a banned substance in 2007 and was banned for two years. However after serving the ban, the Punjab lifter did not follow the procedure and obtain a clearance certificate from the Indian Weightlifting Federation.

While Gurdeep refused to comment on the matter, IWF secretary, Sahdev Yadav said it was a procedural lapse on Gurdeep’s part. “It was a mistake on his part. He did not follow the procedure and faced the consequences.’’

As a result , Jharkhand’s Gurmeet Singh was awarded the gold for his lift of 305 kg -- 140 kg in snatch and 165 kg in clean and jerk. Iqbal Singh of Assam grabbed the silver with a total of 303 kg, lifting 126 kg in snatch and 177 kg in clean and jerk.

Glory came Karnataka’s way in the day’s second weight category, women’s +75 kg class, as Binitha Devi clinched the gold with a total haul of 184 kg, lifting 81 kg in snatch and hoisting 103 kg in clean and jerk. The 21-yr-old from Imphal who trains at Bangalore’s Sports Authority of India facility, said she was optimistic of her medal prospects here.

“I was hopeful of winning a gold medal here as I had trained hard,’’ she said. Binitha’s previous best was 182 kg (77 kg, 105 kg) that won her the gold medal at the National Games in Jharkhand.

K Tulasi of IWF settled for the silver medal lifting a total of 176 kg, muscling in 77 kg in snatch and lifting 99 kg in clean and jerk. Amanpreet Kaur of Punjab, who did well in snatch with 83 kg, had to be content with the bronze as she could muster only a maximum of 92 kg in clean and jerk. The men’s +105 kg class was the last event of the championships and Rupinder Singh of Jharkhand took home the gold in the men’s +105class, lifting 330 kg in total (153 kg and 177 kg). The 25-year-old CRPF employee, who hails from Amritsar said he was confident about his chances here. “ I knew I could win the gold as it was within my reach.’’

Sandeep Kumar of Services won the silver totalling 325 kg (140 kg, 185 kg) and Gurminder Singh of Delhi got the bronze lifting a total weight of 314 kg (136 kg, 178 kg).
Services defended their men’s crown with aplomb, tallying 622 points. Manipur topped the women’s section with 503 points.

Results: Men: 105 kg: Gurmeet Singh (Jha), 305 kg (Snatch 140 kg, clean and jerk 165) 1; Iqbal Singh (Assam), 303 kg (126 kg, 177 kg) 2; Abdul Arif Khan (MP), 295 kg (125 kg, 170 kg) 3. +105 kg: Rupinder Singh (Jha), 330 kg (153 kg, 177 kg) 1; Sandeep Kumar (Services), 325 kg (140 kg, 185 kg) 2; Gurminder Singh (Del), 314 kg (136 kg, 177 kg) 3.

Women: +75 kg: Binita Devi (Kar), 184 kg (81 kg, 103 kg) 1; K Tulasi (IWF), 176 kg (77 kg, 99 kg) 2; Amanpreet K (Punjab), 175 kg (83 kg,  92 kg) 3.
Best lifter, men: K Ravi Kumar (Services). Women: Sanjitha Chanu (Meghalaya). Inter-State champions: UP (157 points).