Three lifters picked for Commonwealth meet

Three from Orissa were selected to represent India in the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships to be held in Penang (Malaysia) from October 18-23. They included Minati Sethi (Senior women), K Ravi Kumar (Senior men) and Anupdeo Toppo (Junior men). Minati belongs to Rourkela, while Ravi Kumar and Toppo represent Services. Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWF) secretary general BR Gulati named both the senior and junior squads, comprising 15 lifters each after a selection trial in Pune on September 6. Shailaja Pujari and Geeta Rani will be among the top contenders for gold medals. India last participated in the Commonwealth Championships in 2005 in Melbourne and the country returned with a rich haul of medals. Pujari was adjudged the best woman lifter in that championships with a gold in the 75kg category. Meanwhile, Gulati defended the IWF’s decision to take Rs 4,800 each for dope testing from the 15 lifters who took part in the selection trials, saying the amount was refundable if National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) does not charge. He said all the lifters were given receipts in return of the money. INDIAN SQUADS: Senior women: N Soniya Chanu (48kg): Minati Sethi (53kg): Seepana Yamini (58kg): H Poireinganbi Chanu (63kg): S Nansita Devi (68kg): Shailaja Pujari and Geeta Rani (75kg). Senior Senior men: V Srinivasa Rao, V Vinoth Kumar (both 56kg): Rustam Sarang, Omkar Otari (both 62kg): K Ravi Kumar, Govindan Elumalai (both 69kg): Velu Prabhu (77kg): Sandeep Kumar (105kg). Junior women: Bangaru Usha, Deeksha Gaikwad (both 48kg): Balvir Kaur, Kulusu Sandhya (both 53kg): G Aruna Rani, Reena (both 63kg): Kh Premila Devi (75kg). Junior men: Sukhen Dey, Swapnil ghagare (both 56kg): K Ramesh Kumar (62kg): Gaurav Dubey, M Ramakrishna (both 69kg): Anupdeo Toppo, Ajaydeep Sarang (both 77kg): Vompu Praabhakar (105kg).