New Delhi: The Indian men’s and women’s weighlifting teams secured two quota places for the Rio Games at the recent senior Asian championships held at Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
A total of 100 points were scored by the women lifters, who were placed third. While the men earned 129 points to finish sixth at the Championships. The performance confirmed two quota places for India for the Olympics.
Now, the Indian Weighlifting Federation will hold trials to select the best two lifters who will represent India at the Rio Games. At the championships, held from April 21 to 30, the women put up an impressive show. While Glasgow CWG silver medallist Punam Yadav (63kg) secured the sixth position, bronze medallist Saikhom Mirabai Chanu (48kg) and Sagolsem Thasana Chanu (58kg) both finished seventh in their respective categories.
Mirabai Chanu (48kg) smashed the national record in snatch with an effort of 84kg and equalling the national record in overall lift with 190kg (106kg in clean & jerk) en route to her seventh-place finish. N. Kunjarani Devi holds the record (190kg), created at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
