Indian weightlifter Priteesmita Bhoi has shatteread the world youth record in the clean & jerk event while claiming the gold medal in the girls’ 44kg category at the Youth Asian Games on Sunday. The 16-year-old lifted 92kg in clean & jerk, setting a new world youth record, and managed 66kg in snatch for a total of 158kg, securing the top spot on the podium.
Bhoi began her clean and jerk attempts with a successful lift of 87kg, improved to 90kg in her second try, and then lifted 92kg to set the record. In snatch, she succeeded with 66kg but failed her next two attempts at 68kg and 69kg. China’s Wu Jihong finished second with a total of 156kg (68kg snatch, 88kg clean & jerk), while Vietnam’s Dao Thi Yen claimed bronze with 141kg.
Who is Priteesmita Bhoi?
Bhoi was born in Dhenkanal, Odisha. She was just two years old when her father passed away, and she and her sister were raised by their mother under difficult circumstances.
Their talent was discovered by coach Gopal Das, who noticed the sisters participating in track and field events while studying at Kendriya Vidyalaya. Recognising their potential, he approached their mother with a suggestion to switch to weightlifting. Although initially hesitant, she eventually agreed.
Das’s hunch proved correct, as Bhoi soon began to shine with record-breaking performances globally.
At the 2024 Youth World Weightlifting Championships, Bhoi set a new world record in the clean and jerk category to claim the gold medal in the 40kg event. Earlier this year, she also triumphed in the 44kg category at the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships.
Other major India results from Youth Asian Games
India also tasted success in the boys’ 60kg category, where 17-year-old Maharajan Arumugapandian clinched the silver medal with a combined total of 256kg – lifting 114kg in snatch and 142kg in clean & jerk.
China’s Chen Xunfa took gold with an aggregate of 261kg (120kg snatch, 141kg clean & jerk).
With these results, India’s medal tally rose to 23 medals – three gold, 9 silver and 11 bronze.
On Saturday, the country had 17 medals, including two gold, six silver, and 9 bronze.
In athletics, India’s girls’ medley relay team comprising Edwina Jason, Tannu, Avinash Shourya, and Bhumika Nehate won silver with a time of 2:09.65, behind the UAE (2:07.79). China claimed bronze in 2:10.14.
The boys’ medley relay team finished fifth with a time of 1:59.96.
In cycling, Anjali Jakhar narrowly missed a podium finish in the girls’ individual time trial, placing fourth with a time of 17:43.89.
In field events, Siya Banjara and Misti Karmakar finished seventh and eighth respectively in the girls’ javelin throw, recording distances of 42.32m and 42.05m. Parizoda Talabova of Uzbekistan claimed gold with 53.08m.
In the girls’ high jump, Yashvitha Potanapalli finished 10th with a best clearance of 1.50m, while in the boys’ discus throw, Swapnil Dutta secured sixth place with 51.53m.
In boxing, Khushi Chand advanced to the girls’ 46kg semifinals after defeating Saudi Arabia’s Wareef Mohammed Alshehri, while Aahana Sharma reached the 50kg semifinals with a win over Bhutan’s Sangay Peldon.
Teen boxer Chandrika Pujari got the better of Japan’s Yui Hatakeyama in the 54kg quarterfinals, but Harshika lost her 60kg bout to China’s Wang Jingjing.
In the higher weight categories, Anshika won her 80+kg quarterfinal against Uzbekistan’s Mavjuda Abdusaidova, while Shivani Toor exited after a 75kg quarterfinal loss to China’s Zheng Shan.
(With PTI inputs)
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