BHUBANESWAR 28-Jul-2014 190
Ace Odisha weightlifter K Ravi Kumar made the state proud yet again, securing a silver medal in the 20th Commonwealth Games in Glasgow (Scotland) last last night. The Berhampur lifter claimed the medal in men`s 77kg weight class, lifting 142kg in snatch and 175kg in clean and jerk for a total of 317kg.
The success assumed added importance as Ravi Kumar had underwent a surgery on his shoulder earlier this year due to an injury sustained during the London Olympic Games. India made it one-two in the event with debutant Satish Sivalingam grabbing the gold with Games record.
The 22-year-old Satish, the 2013 Commonwealth championship gold medallist, lifted a total of 328kg, which included 149kg in snatch and 179kg in clean and jerk. Australia`s Francois Etoundi bagged the bronze with a lift of 314kg (137+177) at the Clyde Auditorium. Satish`s 149kg lift in Sntch lift erased the earlier record of 148kg in the name of Yuko Peter of Nauru while winning gold in 2010 Delhi.
Odisha Olympic Association secretary Asirbad Behera described Ravi Kumar`s performance as major boost for weightlifting in the state. He also announced cash prize of Rs 50,000 for the lifter, who had won the gold medal with new record in the 69kg category of the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games.
Family members and fans in Berhampur celebrated the achievement by distributing sweets. ``I am happy that he has won the silver, though I would have been happier if he had won the gold. But this was the first time he was competing in the 77kg category and also the first time he was competing after the surgery,” said his elated mother K Suryakanta.
