Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur congratulated weightlifter Sanket Sargar after he won a silver medal in the men's 55 kg category in the ongoing Commonwealth Games 2022 in Birmingham on Saturday.
Sargar opened India's account at the Commonwealth Games by winning a silver medal with a combined lift of 248 kg in the final.
"#SanketSargar opens India's Medal account with a Silver (248 kg) in Men's 55 kg weightlifting at #B2022 #CWG2022. Missed the gold by a whisker, but India is really proud of you. Congratulations Sanket! #Cheer4India," tweeted the sports minister.
Sargar finished as the leader in the Snatch category with 113 kg and slipped to second in the Clean and Jerk category with 135 kg due to an injury in his second attempt.
Aniq Kasdan of Malaysia won the gold medal and challenged the Indian throughout the event, ending with a combined lift of 249 kg, consisting of 107 kg in Snatch and 142 kg in Clean and Jerk.
Sri Lanka's Dilanka Isuru Kumara won the bronze with a combined lift of 225 kg. He lifted a best of 105 kg in the Snatch category and 120 in Clean and Jerk.
In the snatch category, Sargar made a great start and lifted 107 kg in his first attempt. But Aniq Kasdan of Malaysia matched him and lifted 107 kg himself.
Sargar successfully lifted the required 111 kg in his second attempt. Kasdan failed in his second attempt to lift the same amount and gave the lead to Sargar.
Sri Lanka's Dilanka Isuru Kumara upped the required standard for Sargar and lifted 112 kg. Sargar responded by successfully lifting an incredible 113 in his final attempt. With Dilanka's lift being declared as 'no lift' later, Sargar finished the Snatch leaderboard at the top position.
With Sargar at the top in Snatch, the competitors headed to the Clean and Jerk lift category.
The 22-year-old made an immediate impact in his first Clean and Jerk attempt as he lifted the required 135 kg to go to the very top of the leaderboard. Kasdan continued challenging his Indian opponent and lifted 138 in his first attempt. He was just 3 kg behind the Indian with a combined lift of 245 kg.
Sargar failed to lift 139 kg in his second attempt and seemingly injured his elbow. He tried to go for his third attempt but failed again and ended with a combined lift of 248 kg. Kasdan successfully lifted 142 kg in his final attempt and upped his combined lift to 249 kg, just one ahead of Sargar.
( With inputs from ANI )
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