Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday congratulated Mirabai Chanu and other Indian medal winners in the ongoing Commonwealth Games in UK’s Birmingham.
Twenty-seven-year-old weightlifter from Manipur Mirabai Chanu clinched the first gold medal for India at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in the women’s 49 kg weightlifting category.
Chanu, who had bagged the yellow metal four years ago in Gold Coast, not only defended her title successfully by lifting 201 kg (88 kg in snatch and 113 kg in clean and jerk) but also set a Games record in the process.
Chanu’s efforts secured India’s third medal – all three in weightlifting – after Sanket Sargar from Maharastra had won silver and Air Force man Gururaja Poojary from Kerala claimed bronze in their respective events on Saturday.
Son of a farmer at Sangli, Sanket Sagar opened the medal count for India at the games.
He lost the gold by a kg against his Malaysian rival, as he got injured on his right elbow in the second attempt during clean a jerk. He had finished top in a snatch of the event.
“Many congratulations to Mirabai Chanu for winning the Gold Medal and setting a new record at the Commonwealth Games at Birmingham. The entire nation is immensely proud! May you shine to even greater heights,” Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said in a message on Sunday.
She also congratulated weightlifters Sanket Sargar for winning silver and Gururaja Poojary for bronze.
Leader of the opposition Suvendu Adhikari also congratulated Mirabai Chanu.
“What a dominating display from the Olympics Silver Medalist; Saikhom Mirabai Chanu at Birmingham,” Adhikari said in a message.
“Congratulations on the new CWG record & the Gold Medal in Women’s Weightlifting Mirabai Chanu,” the MLA from Nandigram said.
“You have lifted the spirits of all the Indian Athletes in the Games Village as well,” Adhikari added.
