BHUBANESWAR 06-Oct-2010 129
Orissa wightlifter Katula Ravi Kumar achieved a historic success for his state by winning gold medal in the 69kg weight class of the XIX Commonwealth Games in New Delhi today. The 22-year-old lifter also registered three new Games records in the process, lifting 146kg in snatch, 175kg in clean and jerk and 321kg in total.
This is the highest individual achievement by an Orissa sportspersons in the Commonwealth Games, surpassing the silver medals bagged by woman weightlifter Prasmita Mangaraj in the 2006 at Melbourne. Earlier in 2002 Manchester Games, three girls from Orissa had helped India win the hockey gold medal.
Rewards followed the gold medal triumph with Union Petroleum Ministry announcing a cash incentive of Rs 20 lakhs, Orissa Olympic Association Rs 1 lakh and Orissa Chief Minister a housing plot in a city of the lifter`s choice.
