Lagatar24 desk
Birmingham, July 30: Indian weightlifter Sanket Sargar brought India’s first medal at the ongoing Commonwealth Games, as he won silver in the 55 kg men’s final on Saturday.
Sagar lifted 135 kg in his first attempt of clean and jerk before missing weight of 139 kg in his second and third attempts. Notably, he had lifted the highest weight of 113 kg in snatch in his third attempt and was leading the race until Mohamad Aniq bin Kasdan surpassed him by a narrow margin to win gold.
Meanwhile, Satwik Sairaj Rankireddy and Ashwini Ponappa made light work of the Sri Lankan challenge in the second game as they won 21-9. India went 1-0 up against the Lankans before leading it 3-0.
Sagar hails from Sangli, Maharashtra. The 22-year-old is the reigning national-level champion in his weight category of 55 kg. Earlier in February this year, he had qualified for Commonwealth Games by performing well at the Singapore Weightlifting International event.
At that event, apart from qualifying he also smashed the Commonwealth Championships and National Level record with a combined lift of 256 kg, which consists of 113 kg in the Snatch category and 143 in the Clean and Jerk category. This performance earned him a gold medal at the event.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted to congratulate Sargar on his achievement.
“Exceptional effort by Sanket Sargar! His bagging the prestigious Silver is a great start for India at the Commonwealth Games. Congratulations to him and best wishes for all future endeavours,” PM Modi wrote on Twitter.
Exceptional effort by Sanket Sargar! His bagging the prestigious Silver is a great start for India at the Commonwealth Games. Congratulations to him and best wishes for all future endeavours. pic.twitter.com/Pvjjaj0IGm
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 30, 2022
President of India Droupadi Murmu also took to Twitter and congratulated the young champion from India.
Congratulations to Sanket Sargar for winning the silver medal in Weightlifting at #CommonwealthGames. Your immense hard work has brought success to you and glory to India. My best wishes as India opens its medal tally.
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) July 30, 2022
Talking to ANI, the father and sister of Sargar expressed their emotions and said, “We’re very happy that he has won a silver medal for the country despite an elbow injury.”
Sangli, Maharashtra | "We're very happy that he has won a silver medal for the country despite an elbow injury," says sister and father of Weightlifter Sanket Sargar
Sanket Sargar won a silver medal in Men's 55 kg weightlifting in #CommonwealthGames2022 pic.twitter.com/KdXVJw0hay
— ANI (@ANI) July 30, 2022
His father Mahadev Sargar, who runs a tea shop for his bread and butter, added that he was elated by his son’s achievement and now both his children have brought glory to India. His daughter also won gold for Maharashtra in Haryana (Khelo India Youth Games).
Sangli, Maharashtra | I run a tea & paan shop to earn my bread. My daughter won gold for Maharashtra in Haryana (Khelo India Youth Games) & my son has now won the first medal in CWG. I am elated: Mahadev Sargar, father of Sanket Sargar who won the silver medal in CWG 2022 pic.twitter.com/8T9yPrfGil
— ANI (@ANI) July 30, 2022
