Commonwealth Games 2014: India finish day 1 with 7 medals

Sanjita Chanu and Mirabai Chanu with their respective medals

Lifting their way to glory

India ended the opening day of the XX Commonwealth Games on a good note as they grabbed seven medals including two gold and three silver. Of the seven medals won four were taken by the weightlifters, while our Judokas clinched three.

First gold medal of the day came from weightlifting where Khumukcham Sanjita Chanu lifted a total of 173kg (77kg in snatch and 96kg in Clean and Jerk) in women’s 48kg event. Compatriot Mirabai Chanu took the silver medal after lifting a total of 170kg (75 + 95). Nigeria’s Nikechi Opara won the bronze medal with a total lift of 162kg.

This contest was totally dominated by the two young Manipuri girls as the Nigerian lifter fell way behind after failing to lift the 75kg in her third attempt in snatch.

2010 Commonwealth Games silver medalist Sukhan Dey performed one better at Glasgow when he won the gold medal in the men’s 56kg event. Dey,lifted a total of 248kg (109 kg in snatch, 139 in clean and jerk) to clinch the yellow metal. Ganesh Mali, with a total lift of 244kg (111 kg in snatch, 133 in clean and jerk) won the bronze medal in the same event. Malaysia's Pisol with a total lift of 245kg(108+137) clinched the second position.

Good day for Indian Judo

Judokas won the remaining three medals for the country on the first day of the games. In women’s 48kg category, Sushila Likmabam lost to the local player Kimberley Renicks in the gold medal bout.

Sushila, who fought superbly till the semifinal match was absolutely no match to the Scottish judoka as the crowd favorite knocked down the Indian in the third minute of the final round with an Ippon (knock-out) verdict. The Manipuri fighter started off in a brilliant fashion as she thrashed Medza Effa of Cameroon in just one minute and 41 seconds in the opening round. In the quarterfinals, she defeated Amy Mayer of Australia and then knocked out another Australian judoka Chloe Rayner in the semifinals.

Second silver medal in Judo was won by Navjot Chana of Punjab in men’s 60kg category. Chana, who defeated the much higher ranked Aussie Judoka Tom Pappas in the first round lost to Ashley McKenzie of England on the basis of penalty points in the final bout.

The remaining bronze medal of the day was won by Kalpana Thoudam in the women’s 52kg Judo event as she thrashed Christianne Legentil of Mauritius on the basis of penalty points in the bronze medal bout.

So at the end of day 1; Indian team with a total of 7 medals is at fourth position. English team with a total of 17 medals (6G + 7S +4B) holds the top spot, while Aussies with 15 medals (5G + 3S + 7B) are placed second. The home team with total of 4 gold, 3 silver and 3 bronze are on third position. India occupy the fourth place with 7 medals (2G + 3S + 2B).