Gandhinagar, Sep 30: The women’s 49kg weightlifting competition at the 36th National Games unfolded on expected lines with a tactical battle between Mirabai Chanu and Sanjita Chanu at the Mahatma Mandir here on Friday.
In the snatch, Mirabai seized an early advantage by raising the bar to 81kgs in her very first attempt, before a clean effort of 84kg in her second lift gave her a cushion of 3kgs over her statemate Sanjita, who could manage 80kg and 82kgs in her first two attempts.
Sanjita’s third attempt of lifting 84kg was adjudged a foul. Mirabai preferred to save her energy and didn’t turn up for the third attempt.
In clean and jerk, Sanjita lifted 95kgs in her first attempt before raising the bar to 100kg and 105kg, with all three attempts getting the green light from the judges.
All eyes were on Mirabai. She was greeted with thunderous applause from the crowd, which included a large Manipuri contingent. The Birmingham Commonwealth Games gold medallist successfully lifted 103 in her first attempt before returning to lift 107kg to confirm the centre spot on the podium. She didn’t need a third attempt to take home the gold.
Elated after confirming the first medals for their state, the two Manipur weightlifters joined the rest of the members of the contingent.
Sanjitha, the two-time Commonwealth Games gold medallists (2014, 2018) who was provisionally suspended by the IWF after testing positive for testosterone in May 2018 and cleared in 2020 after the charge was dropped, is making a comeback.
A visibly emotional Sanjita, considering the mental demons she had overcome for the silver, said, “This is a special moment for me. But congratulations to Mirabai. She deserves all the praise and accolades for her brilliant effort. It feels great to compete at the National Games, and represent my state. The last time (in Kerala 2015), I won the gold in a lower weight category, but after seven years, the level of competition definitely goes up.”