Satheesha Rai and Sonia Chanu did India proud by winning silver medals while Alabi Dare (Nigeria) and Lu Meiqin (China) won the gold in weightlifting events at the Afro Asian Games at Hyderabad on Monday.
Bogged down by a knee injury, Satheesha Rai missed the gold on his body weight after he was tied with the Nigerian at 322.5 kg in the men's 77kg event, in which Eshtiwi S Ali of Libya took the bronze.
In the women's 53kg category, 23-year-old Sonia lifted a total of 177.5 (77.5 in snatch and 100 in clean and jerk) to take the silver as Lu Meiqin took the gold, lifting total of of 200 kg (85 and 115). Nigerian Lawal Patience won the bronze with 167.5 (72.5 and 95).
Sonia failed to lift 75 kg in her first attempt in snatch but made amends in the second and then went on to improve it to 77.5kg in the third round. She lifted 100 in the clean and jerk while the Chinese girl started with 80kg in the first section and 110 in the second.
In the men's section, Rai sustained a knee injury during his second round of clean and jerk after lifting 140. He was carried away by the medicos and had to withdraw from the third round.
The Nigerian, who equalled the tally after his second outing, went for higher stakes but could not sustain the increased weight which left a tie at 322.5 kg.
The verdict went in favour of the Nigerian as he weighed 75.25 kg against Rai's weight of 76 kg to pick the gold.
"We did not want to take any risks and hence decided to withdraw," coach Jaswinder Singh said later while Rai maintained that he felt pain in the knee while lifting in the second round.
"I held the weights steady and endured the pain but it has aggravated."
Sonia, the Manipuri girl, was cheered by the home crowd in all her attempts. Her concentration was affected with the thunderous applause when she first came for the snatch to lift 75 kg.
After the announcer requested the spectators to keep quiet, Sonia succeeded in her subsequent efforts of lifting 75 and 77.5 kg in the snatch. She fumbled with 100 kg in the second round of clean and jerk but made it in the final to finish second.
The men's section of clean and jerk had seen tempers and stakes running high with the local crowd cheering Rai's every single effort. He easily lifted 172 kg and sprained his knee after a good lift of 177.5 kg.
Eshtiwi of Libiya lifted 302 kg, 135 in snatch and 167.5 in clean and jerk to take the third spot.
After the referees gave a 2-1 verdict of no lift to a 140 kg effort of Eshtiwi in clean and jerk event, the jury overruled the decision and pronounced it as a good lift.
Rai asked for 185 kg in the third attempt after the injury, while the Nigerian was on the podium and loaders had put on 185 kg instead of 180 kg which Dare had asked for.
While he was about to lift, he was told something and he threw the bar out in irritation.
The jury said that there was a communication gap between the loaders and the officials and allowed the Nigerian another round with 185 kg which he successfully lifted and was tied with Rai at 322.5 kg.
While Rai could not come to take the third round, the Nigerian failed to lift 187.5 kg.
Results:
77kg men: 1- Alabi Dare (Ngr) 322.5 kg (137.5, 185), 2-Satheesha Rai(Ind) 322.5kg (145, 177.5), 3-Eshtiwi S Ali(Lba) 302.5kg ( 135, 167.5).
53 kg women: Lu Meiqin(Cha) 200 kg (85, 115), Sonia Chanu (India) 177.5 kg (77.5, 100), 3- Lawal Patience (Ngr 1 167.5 kg ( 72.5, 95).