Asian Games: Weightlifters eye maiden gold medal at Incheon

Having raised the country’s expectations after winning 12 ‘clean’ medals in the recently concluded Glasgow Commonwealth Games (CWG), the Indian weightlifting contingent will be eyeing more glory in the 17th Asian Games

New Delhi: Having raised the country’s expectations after winning 12 ‘clean’ medals in the recently concluded Glasgow Commonwealth Games (CWG), the Indian weightlifting contingent will be eyeing more glory in the 17th Asian Games.

The Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWF) has named seven medallists from the Glasgow CWG in the ten-member squad and they are expected to mount a serious challenge for medals.

Sathish Sivalingam

Indian weightlifting has been dogged by rampant doping scandals in the past but no positive tests were reported during the Glasgow Games and India emerged as the top nation in the event.

For the record, India has never won a weightlifting gold medal at the Asian Games.

The squad of five men and five women heading for Incheon includes nine who competed in Glasgow and all three gold medallists: Sathish Sivalingam (men’s 77kg), Sukhen Dey (men’s 56kg) and Sanjita Khumukchan (women’s 48kg). K Ravi Kumar (men’s 77kg), Vikas Thakur (men’s 85kg) and Saikhom Mirabai Chanu (women’s 48kg) won silver. Punam Yadav settled for bronze in the women’s 63kg.

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