Renu Bala Yumnam Chanu wins gold in 58 kg weightlifting

Melbourne, Mar 18 (UNI) Holding her nerves and displaying tremendous maturity, Renu Bala Yumnam Chanu lifted 185 kg to claim India's second gold in weightlifting in the Commonwealth Games here today.

Renu Bala's statemate from Manipur N Kunjarani had won the first weightlifting gold for the country here Games in 48 kg category on Thursday.

Renu Bala was a clear seven Kg ahead of her immediate Canadian rival Beth Emily Quarton who lifted 178 kg for the silver.

Australian Jane Natasha Barkar also lifted 178 but lost to Quarton on body weight to finish third for a bronze. The body weight difference between the Canadian and the Australian was just 30 grams.

Twenty-year-old Renu Bala surived a close challenge from Barkar in the initial stages and it goes to the credit of the unassuming Manipuri girl that she was not hustled.

Renu started snatch with a lift of 77 kg, then incresed the weight by two kgs, in the second lift and then had an easy third lift of 80 kg.

The way the diminutive Indian lifted the three attempts in snatch established her as a medal winner.

Quarton started with two failed lifts. In her first attempt of 77 kg, she failed and next time also she could not hold on to it. The 22-year-old Canadian, however, managed a lift of 77 kg in her third attempt.

Barkar followed Renu lift by lift, picking up 77, then 79 and ended with 80 kg in snatch.

The Indian raised the weight of her lift in the clean-and-jerk to 96 which she lifted with ease. Her next lift was 100 kg and then she raised it to 105 kg.

Quarton cleared 98 kg in her first attempt but then failed in her next attempt of 101 kg and Barkar lifted 95 and 98 kgs in her two attempts.

So Renu had virtually sealed the gold in her favour after the second attempt because others were far behind her.

However, to put the issue beyond doubt, the Indian asked for 105 kg in her third attempt and when she lifted it without much ado, the packed hall erupted to a thunderous applause.

Quarton's last attempt was 101 kg whille Barker failed with 100 kg.

''Renu gave a superb display of concentration'', said coach Hansa Sharma. ''She never showed any sign of panic or awe in such elite field.'' With this, India has so far won four medals in weightlifting -- two gold and two silver.

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