Glasgow: Gyaneshwari Yadav secures silver in Commonwealth Games weightlifting
Gyaneshwari Yadav, an Indian weightlifter, secured a silver medal in the women’s 53kg category at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. This achievement marks India’s fourth weightlifting medal at the ongoing Games.
Yadav, who is also an Asian Championships bronze medallist, delivered a strong performance, achieving a total lift of 199kg. Her lift consisted of 88kg in the snatch discipline and 111kg in the clean and jerk. This total lift represented a personal best for her in both the overall total and the clean and jerk performance.
Competition Highlights
In the snatch portion of the competition, Gyaneshwari Yadav lifted 88kg, placing her second. Onome Didih of Nigeria led this segment with a lift of 93kg, while Rebeka Groulx of Canada was third with 83kg. The standings after the snatch discipline were Didih at 93kg, Yadav at 88kg, and Groulx at 83kg.
During the clean and jerk, Yadav successfully lifted 111kg. However, Didih Onome Omolola of Nigeria managed a lift of 113kg, which allowed her to maintain her lead and ultimately secure the gold medal. Omolola’s total lift of 206kg (93kg snatch + 113kg clean and jerk) set new Commonwealth and Commonwealth Games records.
Rebeka Groulx of Canada earned the bronze medal with a total lift of 178kg. Other competitors included Johanni Taljaard of South Africa, who finished fourth with 175kg, and Jenly Tegu Wini of the Solomon Islands, who placed fifth with 172kg.
India’s Weightlifting Success
Gyaneshwari Yadav’s silver medal is the fourth weightlifting medal for India at the current Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the fifth medal overall for the nation. Earlier in the competition, Mirabai Chanu secured a gold medal in the women’s 48kg category, and Rishikanta Singh claimed a silver medal in the men’s 60kg event. Muthupandi Raja also contributed with a silver medal in the men’s 65kg category.
The weightlifting competition at the Commonwealth Games involves two main disciplines: the snatch and the clean and jerk. Each lifter is allowed three attempts in both disciplines. In the snatch, athletes lift the barbell from the ground to an overhead position in one continuous movement, using a wide grip. For the clean and jerk, the bar is first lifted to the shoulders, paused, and then driven overhead, held steady until a buzzer signals completion.
The 23-year-old lifter, originally from Bhondiya village in Chhattisgarh, began her journey in the sport at a young age. She progressed through the state’s sports development system before joining the national setup. Her consistent performances in both junior and senior national championships have established her as a prominent female lifter in her weight category for India.
Gyaneshwari Yadav trains at the Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports (NIS) in Patiala as part of the national coaching program. She has previously represented India in significant international competitions, including the Commonwealth Championships, Asian Championships, and the World Weightlifting Championships.
Her silver medal further highlights India’s continued strength in weightlifting on the Commonwealth stage, adding to the country’s medal tally in Glasgow.
Looking Ahead
Yadav’s performance in Glasgow underscores India’s consistent presence on the weightlifting podium at international events. Her personal best total of 199kg demonstrates her ongoing development and competitive form.
The success of Indian weightlifters like Gyaneshwari Yadav, Mirabai Chanu, Rishikanta Singh, and Muthupandi Raja at the Commonwealth Games continues to showcase the nation’s talent in the sport. The event concluded on Sunday, July 27.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
