Dehradun, Feb 2 (PTI) – Maharashtra’s weightlifter Vaishnav Thakur etched his name in the record books by setting a new national snatch record in the men’s 102kg category at the National Games on Sunday. However, despite his feat, he had to settle for silver as Services’ Jagdish Vishwakarma emerged victorious with an extraordinary clean-and-jerk effort, performed while momentarily balancing on one leg.
Vaishnav lifted an impressive 160kg in snatch, breaking the previous national record of 157kg, which was held by Jagdish himself. However, his clean-and-jerk attempt of 175kg fell short, bringing his total to 335kg, which placed him second overall.
Jagdish, who managed only 152kg in snatch, made a remarkable comeback in clean and jerk, lifting 193kg to secure a total of 345kg, earning him the gold medal. Haryana’s Harshit Sehrawat clinched bronze with a total lift of 329kg.
In a dramatic moment, Jagdish repeated an act he had attempted in a previous competition—lifting his left leg after completing the clean-and-jerk. This time, however, the lift was already recorded as successful before he lost balance, ensuring it counted as a ‘good lift.’
"Last year, he lifted his leg before completing the attempt, leading to a ‘no-lift’ decision. But today, he had already finished the lift, so it was valid," an official explained.
Despite finishing second, Vaishnav took immense pride in his record-breaking achievement.
"We all look up to Jagdish bhai, and breaking his record in front of him is a dream come true. He beat me in total, but today is still special," Vaishnav said.
Jagdish, in turn, praised the young lifter while vowing to push himself further.
"I always tell youngsters not to focus on medals but on breaking records. Vaishnav did that today, and it has motivated me even more," he said.
Women’s 81kg and 87kg Categories See Intense Battles
In the women’s 81kg category, Vanshita Verma of Chandigarh took the gold with a total lift of 208kg (93kg snatch, 115kg clean and jerk). Punjab’s Manpreet secured silver with 197kg (85kg snatch, 112kg clean and jerk), while Anjana Sreejith of Kerala claimed bronze with 196kg.
The women’s 87kg event saw Tamil Nadu’s Arockiya Alish dominate with a total of 221kg, securing gold. Assam’s Modhusmrita Baruah earned silver with 208kg, and Karnataka’s Usha took bronze with 197kg.
Men’s 109kg: Rajasthan’s Harcharan Singh Dominates
In the men’s 109kg category, Rajasthan’s Harcharan Singh showcased his dominance, lifting 160kg in snatch and 187kg in clean and jerk, amassing a total of 347kg to clinch the gold.
Services’ Mohd Jameer Hussain secured silver with 337kg (150kg snatch, 187kg clean and jerk), while Haryana’s Manish attempted to set a new clean-and-jerk national record at 193kg but failed. He settled for bronze with a total lift of 331kg.
As the National Games progress, the stage is set for more record-breaking performances and fierce competition in weightlifting.
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