Jeremy Lalrinnunga bags Commonwealth lifting gold

India's teenage weightlifting sensation Jeremy Lalrinnunga could not breach his personal best, but an effort of 305kg was enough to earn a gold medal in the men's 67kg category at the Commonwealth Championships, in Tashkent, on Friday.

The 2018 Youth Olympics gold medallist finished with a best effort of 305kg (141kg+164kg) in the men's 67kg event. His personal best stands at 306kg (140kg+166kg), achieved in 2019.

The 19-year-old also created a National record in the snatch event en route to his podium finish, but was unable to do the same in the clean and jerk section, where he failed to lift 168kg.

In the World Championships, which are being held simultaneously with the Commonwealth Championship, he was placed fourth in snatch and seventh overall.

Jeremy had suffered a knee injury in April during the Asian Championships. He finished fourth at the Junior World Championships in May, but was unable to make the cut for the Tokyo Olympics.

The Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships also serve as a qualifying event of the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

The gold medalists in each weight category in the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships directly qualify for the 2022 CWG and the rest qualify through Commonwealth rankings.