Imphal: Manipur’s weightlifting sensation S Bindyarani Devi made history at the ongoing National Games on Friday, setting a new national record in the snatch category and securing the gold medal in the women’s 55kg weight class.
Bindyarani, a Commonwealth Games silver medalist, faced an initial setback with her first snatch attempt at 83kg but displayed remarkable resilience.
In her final attempt, she successfully lifted 88kg, breaking the national record of 86kg previously held by Mirabai Chanu, who competed in the 55kg category for a brief period. Bindyarani’s impressive performance earned her the top spot on the podium.
The 23-year-old’s dominance continued in the clean and jerk segment, where she lifted 107kg in her first attempt.
Despite faltering at 112kg in her second attempt, Bindyarani bounced back with a powerful 113kg lift on her final attempt.
With a total lift of 201kg, she was just one kilogram shy of her national record of 202kg in the clean and jerk category.
With this victory, Bindyarani now holds all three national records in the women’s 55kg category – snatch, clean and jerk, and total lift. “I was well prepared, and I am happy with my performance. It’s always nice to get a record in your name. It’s good that now both snatch and clean & jerk records are in my name,” Bindyarani shared after her win.
Adding to Manipur’s joy, L Nilam Devi clinched the bronze medal, contributing to the state’s stellar performance.
Despite early struggles in the snatch category, Nilam successfully lifted 81kg in her final attempt. She displayed strong form in the clean and jerk, lifting 98kg and 101kg in her first two attempts before narrowly missing 104kg on her last attempt.
Sharabani Das of Bengal claimed the silver medal, excelling in the clean and jerk with successful lifts of 102kg and 106kg, while lifting 78kg and 81kg in the snatch category.
With two podium finishes, Manipur has once again showcased its strength in weightlifting, thanks to the exceptional performances by Bindyarani and Nilam.
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