Making his CWG debut, Achinta Sheuli lifted a total of 313kg (143kg+170kg) in his 73kg weight category. Erry Hidayat Muhammad and Shad Darsigny was second and third respectively.
Weightlifter Achinta Sheuli (73kg) lived up to his top billing as he clinched India's third gold in the Commonwealth Games 2022 in Birmingham. Favourite to win the event, debutant Sheuli heaved 313kg (143kg+170kg) to grab the gold at NEC Hall here on Sunday.
Malaysia's Erry Hidayat Muhammad, who gave Sheuli a tough competition, ended as the second-best lifter in the event. He had a best effort of 303kg (138kg+165kg). Canada's Shad Darsigny was third with a total lift of 298kg (135kg+163kg).
“I’m very happy about this, I've worked hard for this medal. A lot of sacrifices of my brother, mother, my coach and the Army have gone into this medal,” Sheuli said after the win. “This was the first major event in my life and I'm thankful for them to help me reach here.
“This medal will help me in every aspect of life. There should not be looking back from now on.” Asked to whom he would dedicate his gold medal, Sheuli said, “I wish to dedicate this medal to my late dad (who died of heart attack), my brother and my coach Vijay Sharma who slaps me if I do a mistake, keeps scolding me like I'm his own child.”
Hailing from a poor background, Achinta was forced to stitch and embroider to help the family after his father passes away. Achinta’s brother, Alok, who used to be a state-level weightlifter introduced him to the sport at a local gym and train his body.
With a good height of 5 feet and 6 inches, Achinta soon started getting rewards at the district level but it wasn’t anything jaw-dropping. However, loaded with responsibility of running the family, Alok was finding it difficult managing his own weightlifting expenses and quit the sport.
Although Alok sacrificed the sport for the sake of the family, Achinta was encouraged to continue weightlifting. Achinta, a junior world championship silver medallist, executed three clean lifts -- 137kg, 140kg and 143kg -- in the snatch section. His 143kg effort helped him smash the Games record and improve his personal best.
Heading into clean and jerk with a five kilogram advantage, the Kolkata lifter started with a 166kg lift, which he hoisted easily. Sheuli then faltered his 170kg attempt only to heave the weight in the third attempt and create a new Games record in total lift (313kg).
The Indian lifter had to wait patiently towards the end to find out what medal he'd take home as the Malaysian attempted a 176kg lift in his last two attempts only to fail.
Asked what his coach Sharma told him before the final clean and jerk attempt, Sheuli said, “He told me this gold belongs to me just keep calm and go for it. I was a bit nervous but his performance was way below me and I went for it.”
With the gold from Sheuli, the Indian contingent has bagged its sixth medal of the Commonwealth Games 2022. India now has three gold, two silver and a bronze.