CWG 2022: Bindyarani Devi Wins Fourth Medal For India, Clinches Silver In 55 Kg Weightlifting

Bindyarani Devi created a Games record by lifting 116kg in the clean and jerk after a personal best of 86kg in the snatch section, totalling 202 kg on Saturday.

Bindyarani Devi Sorokhaibam reacts after performing a clean & jerk during Women's Weightlifting 55kg Final on day two of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games

Source : Getty Images

New Delhi: Indian athletes and sportspersons are giving back-to-back opportunities for people to celebrate their win as the country got its fourth medal at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham on Saturday. India's Bindyarani Devi grabbed a silver medal in the women's 55kg category, providing the country's fourth weightlifting medal in as many categories at CWG 2022. 

While the world was applauding Mirabai Chanu's gold medal victory, the 23-year-old created a Games record by lifting 116kg in the clean and jerk after a personal best of 86kg in the snatch section, totalling 202 kg on Saturday.

The gold medal expectedly went to Nigeria's Adijat Adenike Olarinoye, who lifted 203kg (92kg+111kg). She also smashed the Games record in snatch and total effort.

Local favourite England's Fraer Morrow bagged the bronze with a 198kg effort (89kg+109kg).

"It is my first CWG and I feel pleased about the silver and about the Games record as well," Bindyarani said.

Like Chanu, Bindyarani too hails from Manipur. She had won the Commonwealth Championships gold in 2019 before getting a silver in the 2021 edition.

Daughter of a farmer who also owns a grocery shop, Bindyarani took up weightlifting due to her short height.

"I was into taekwondo from 2008 to 2012 after that I shifted to weightlifting. I had a height problem so I had to shift. Everyone told me my height is ideal for weightlifting. So I changed." Bindyarani was in the bronze medal finish after the snatch section with a personal best of 86kg, behind Olarinoye (92kg) and Fraer (89kg).

The Indian made an unsuccessful second attempt for 115 kg before lifting a kilogram more to elevate her to silver medal position from bronze as Morrow fluffed her final 115kg attempt.

Earlier in the day, Chanu had provided India its first gold while Sanket Sargar and Gururaja Poojary had clinched silver and bronze medals respectively.