The Olympics Sports team Abdul Rahim and Muhammad Sadiq Padela, Gold Coast, Australia, April 5, 2018: On the opening day of weightlifting competition at Carrara Sports and Leisure Centre, four Commonwealth records were broken, two out of the three gold medals went to Malaysia, and there was a final-round three-way shootout for top spot in the men’s 62kg.
After the snatch round of the men’s 62kg, Tahla TALIB (PAK) took the lead by five kilograms over rival Morea BARU (PNG) when he played it safe to secure a third lift of 132kg – just two kilograms short of the Commonwealth record he had promised.
BARU, by contrast, decided to blow competition away with an opening clean and jerk of 159kg. A successful lift would have put him in the lead. He missed, but was successful on his second attempt.
The second clean and jerk of 162kg by Muhamad Aznil BIDIN (MAS) put him into the lead, forcing BARU to attempt 163kg on his final lift to creep ahead, but a miss meant gold for BIDEN.
In an emotional moment, Ianne GUINARES (NZL) completed a successful final lift of 145kg then knelt, kissed the platform, took off his shoes and left them on the platform as a symbolic gesture indicating his retirement.
In the women’s 48kg, Chanu Saikhom MIRABAI (IND) broke the Commonwealth records she held for the snatch, clean and jerk and total, with the rest of the field a long way back.
Seventeen year-old Marie Hanitra Roilya RANAIVOSOA (MRI) surprised experienced lifters Dinusha GOMES (SRI), Amanda BRADDOCK (CAN) and Thelma TOUA (PNG). All three lifters felt the pressure from RANAIVOSOA, who took the silver medal in the women’s 48kg.
In the men’s 56kg class, there was controversy when the second snatch by Manueli TULO (FIJ) was initially passed by the judges, but then was disallowed after a review.
TULO, who was expected to challenge for the gold medal, then had to take his third and final lift just a few minutes later, but failed his attempt.
“It was a beautiful lift. Everyone saw it,” TULO said.
“I was irritated with the jury, they took my medal from me.”
Tulo was then under tremendous pressure for his third snatch, which he was required to lift immediately after his second lift. Later TULO attempted a weight of 145kg on his third clean and jerk in an attempt to vault into the silver medal position, but failed.
Muhammad Azroy Hazalwa IZHAR AHMAD (MAS) set the first Commonwealth record at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games weightlifting, with a winning total of 261kg in the men’s 56kg class. Tulo finished in fourth.
Men’s 62kg: TALIB (PAK) – bronze
Comments from Talha TALIB (PAK) following his bronze medal performance in the men’s 62kg weightlifting final at Carrara Sports and Leisure Centre on Thursday (5 April).
Talha TALIB (PAK) – bronze
On winning the bronze medal with a total of 284kg:
“First of all, I thanked Allah, my God. I will thank my parents and my coaches.”
On deciding to lift 132kg in the snatch and not attempting to break the Commonwealth record, which stands at 133kg:
“Next time, I will. Next year.” —- GC2018
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.