Mahama, Bahrain, December 9: India’s hopes at the ongoing International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) World Weightlifting Championships now rest on Ditimoni Sonowal, who will compete in Group C of the women’s 64kg event on Tuesday. This comes after the other two Indian lifters have completed their events without securing a medal.
In the women’s 55kg category, India’s Commonwealth Games 2022 silver medalist, Bindyarani Devi, finished in ninth place. Competing in Group B of the non-Olympic weight class, Bindyarani lifted a total of 195kg, comprising 85kg in snatch and 110kg in clean and jerk, falling 7kg short of her personal best of 202kg set during the 2022 CWG in Birmingham.
In the snatch, she successfully lifted 85kg on her second attempt but was unable to complete 88kg in her final attempt. Her performance in the clean and jerk began strong with a successful lift of 110kg. However, she was unable to increase the weight, failing on both subsequent attempts at 114kg and 116kg. As a result, she finished second in her group and ninth overall.
Kang Hyon-gyong of North Korea claimed the gold medal with a total of 226kg (100kg in snatch and 126kg in clean and jerk), while Chen Guan-ling of Chinese Taipei took silver with 211kg (93kg + 118kg). Armenia’s Aleksandra Grigoryan secured the bronze with 205kg (85kg + 120kg). Had Bindyarani matched her personal best, she would have placed fourth.
Earlier, Gyaneshwari Yadav, competing in place of injured Olympic medalist Mirabai Chanu, finished fifth in the women’s 49kg event on Saturday, with a total lift of 182kg.