PTI
GLASGOW, July 30
INDIA’S Chandrakant Malli clinched the bronze medal in men’s 94kg weightlifting to add to the country’s overall tally in the sport in the 20th Commonwealth Games on Tuesday.
Malli, who totalled 338, lifted 146kg, 150kg and 153kg in three attempts in snatch and 183kg, 188kg and 194 kg in clean and jerk to finish third on the podium, ahead of England’s Owen Boxall.
Steven Kukuna Kari of Papua New Guinea bagged the gold medal with a total of 349 while Australia’s Simplice Ribouem won the silver with and identical score but Kari took the top honours owing to lesser body weight.
India, who are leading the standings in weightlifting, have so far won 3 gold, as many silver and 5 bronze medals in the sport.
21-year-old Kari lifted a total of 349kg (149 + 200) to take the gold by the narrowest of margins ahead of Ribouem.
Ribouem, 10 years Kari’s senior, also lifted 349kg (153 + 196), but Kari was awarded the win courtesy of his lower bodyweight after weighing in 110g lighter.
Ribouem had led at the halfway stage following the snatch and looked on course to win a gold to add to the one he collected in the 85kg event in Delhi four years ago.
Kari put the Australian under pressure with his second attempt at the clean and jerk when he lifted 195kg to move in front.
Ribouem, who sought asylum in Australia after representing Cameroon at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, responded with an effort of 196kg to regain his advantage.
Controversy struck in Kari’s final lift when he appeared to lift 200kg, only for the judges to declare it a no-lift after ruling the Papua New Guinean’s elbow had touched his knee.
However, after a few minutes of deliberation, the jury of appeal reversed the decision and judged it a fair lift, much to the anger of the Australian camp. Television replies appeared to show the original decision had been correct.
Ribouem had one lift remaining to try and snatch victory away from Kari as he added a kilogram to the bar.
But the Australian never looked likely to pull it off and collapsed on his back to hand gold to Papua New Guinea - only their third since they made their Commonwealth debut in 1962.
