New Delhi: Gyaneshwari Yadav delivered an impressive performance to secure a silver medal in the women’s 53kg weight category at the Commonwealth Games held in Glasgow on Monday. Motivated by her idol Mirabai Chanu’s recent achievement of winning three consecutive gold medals at the CWG a day earlier, the 23-year-old athlete celebrated her first medal at the Games.
Event Context
In a thrilling contest for the gold medal, Gyaneshwari faced off against Nigeria’s Onome Omolola Didih, ultimately claiming silver. Gyaneshwari lifted a combined total of 199kg with an 88kg snatch and a 111kg clean and jerk, while Didih secured the gold with a remarkable total of 206kg (93kg in snatch and 113kg in clean and jerk), setting new Commonwealth Games records in the process. Additionally, seasoned competitor Bindyarani Devi earned a bronze medal in the women’s 58kg category, achieving a total lift of 199kg (87kg in snatch and 112kg in clean and jerk).
Following Mirabai’s gold medal success, India’s Raja Muthupandi also brought home a silver medal in the men’s 65kg category. The 26-year-old from Kovilpatti, Tamil Nadu, lifted a total of 286kg (126kg in snatch and 160kg in clean and jerk), while Malaysia’s Aznil Bin Bidin Muhamad claimed gold with an impressive total of 299kg, setting three new Games records. Papua New Guinea’s Morea Baru secured the bronze with a total of 282kg (125kg + 157kg).
On Monday, Gyaneshwari showcased her determination in her matchup against Didih, who was on a record-setting mission. Starting with an 82kg lift in her first snatch attempt, Gyaneshwari gradually increased the weight, successfully lifting 85kg and 88kg. Didih opened her competition with an 85kg lift, then progressed to 93kg, establishing new records for both the Commonwealth Games.
Gyaneshwari, trailing Didih by only 5kg after the snatch, maintained her competitiveness through the clean and jerk. She opened with a successful 103kg lift, then increased to 107kg, setting a new Commonwealth Games record. Didih responded with a successful 105kg lift before raising her next attempt to 110kg to reclaim the lead. Gyaneshwari then lifted 111kg in her final effort, putting pressure on the Nigerian. Didih held her composure, lifting 113kg to secure the gold and set almost unattainable records. Despite the silver, Gyaneshwari was pleased with her performance, achieving personal bests in both snatch and clean and jerk.
“I aimed to achieve my personal best, and I am satisfied to have done so in such a challenging competition,” Gyaneshwari remarked to PTI in Glasgow. Originating from Rajnandgaon district in Chhattisgarh, Gyaneshwari has long admired Mirabai, who completed a historic hat-trick of Commonwealth Games golds on Sunday. Growing up as the daughter of a bodybuilder, she developed a passion for weightlifting early on.
In 2022, Gyaneshwari earned a silver medal at the World Junior Championships in the 49kg category with a total lift of 156kg, garnering attention as she followed in the footsteps of her idol, Mirabai. “My father had to give up bodybuilding due to financial struggles, and we moved from our village to the city,” shared Gyaneshwari. “I originally participated in powerlifting, but my interest grew in weightlifting as I saw the increasing weights. I expressed my desire to my father, who supported me wholeheartedly.”
Moving up to the 53kg category in her latest competition, Gyaneshwari had previously tested this weight class at the Asian Championships earlier this year, securing a bronze medal with a total lift of 194kg. In contrast, Bindyarani faced challenges in the snatch but persevered to secure bronze in the women’s 58kg event. At 27, she was cautious in her snatch attempts, clearing weights of 83kg, 85kg, and 87kg, placing her fourth midway.
Nigeria’s Rafiatu Folashade Lawal dominated the competition, winning gold with a snatch of 103kg and a final clean and jerk of 126kg. Canada’s Ann Sophie Taschereau also outperformed Bindyarani, lifting 94kg in the snatch and following up with successful attempts of 111kg, 115kg, and 121kg to secure silver. Recognizing her competition, Bindyarani adjusted her clean and jerk lift from 113kg to a more manageable 110kg, which she could not clear on her first attempt. However, she returned to successfully lift 112kg in her second attempt, clinching the bronze medal with a total of 199kg. Her final attempt at 116kg was unsuccessful, keeping her total under the 200kg mark, while the Nigerian’s clean and jerk of 126kg placed her well ahead in the competition, celebrated by a jubilant display of triumph.
