The Services Sports Control Board: The weightlifting action at the 38th National Games kicked off in spectacular fashion, with Chhattisgarh emerging as a force to be reckoned with on Day 1. The state claimed two gold medals, but it was Maharashtra that led the overall medal tally with six medals, including a silver and four bronze.
In the women’s 45kg category, Sufna Jasmin (Kerala) displayed impressive power, securing gold with a combined total of 159 kg. She lifted 72 kg in Snatch and 87 kg in Clean & Jerk, despite failing on two attempts at 93 kg. Dipali Gursale of Maharashtra claimed silver with 151 kg (69 kg Snatch, 82 kg Clean & Jerk), while Rani Nayak (Madhya Pradesh) earned bronze with a total of 146 kg.
In a nail-biting contest in Men’s 55kg, Vijay Kumar (Chhattisgarh) matched the national clean-and-jerk record with a 143 kg lift, bringing his total to 248 kg and securing gold. Mukund Santosh Aher (Maharashtra) took silver with a near-miss performance, totalling 247 kg, while Goud Akash Shrinivas (Maharashtra) rounded out the podium with bronze at 244 kg.
