IMPHAL, November 2: The 76th men’s and 20th women’s Eastern India Weight Lifting Championship organized by Manipur weightlifting Association begins today at SAI-SAG hall, Khuman Lampak.
Host Manipur was unsuccessful in winning any gold medal on the opening day today and was left bagging only one silver medal. There are 15 gold medals in the championship.
In the women’s 48 kg, H Jinarani Devi of Nagaland bagged gold by lifting 53 kg in Snatch, 68 kg in Clean and Jerk with a total weight of 121 kg, P Ganga Devi of Manipur bagged silver by lifting 53 kg in Snatch, 66 kg in Clean and Jerk with a total weight of 119 kg and Bina Das of Tripura bagged bronze by lifting 45 kg in Snatch, 68 kg in clean and jerk with a total weight of 100 kg.
In the men’s 56 kg, TBC Lacchhanhima of Mizoram bagged gold by lifting 90 kg in Snatch, 110 kg in Clean and Jerk with a total weight of 200 kg; Lalzuidika of Mizoram bagged silver by lifting 82 kg in Snatch, 105 kg in Clean and Jerk with a total weight of 187 kg and Tingchat Wangsu of Arunachal Pradesh bagged bronze by lifting 81 kg in Snatch, 102 kg in Clean and Jerk with a total weight of 183 kg.
Gold medallist of the women’s 48 kg, Jinarani Devi of Manipur who is representing Nagaland in the championship, speaking with media persons, said that she feels happy on winning the gold but at the same time she also feels unhappy on not being able to represent Manipur at the championship.
She further said that she was able to win one silver medal each from state level and North East championship and one gold medal in SAI Championship.
When asked on why she was not representing her home state, she said that due to poor performance at the trial selection test she was able to represent Manipur in the Championship.
The opening day function was attended by Dr Kh Ratankumar, Minister of Works and Transport, M Lokendro Singh, president of Eastern India Weight Lifting Association, Gopal Khanra and Balbir Singh Bhatia, former general secretaries of Indian Weight Lifting Federation as chief guest, president and guests of honour respectively.