CWG 2018 | Venkat Rahul Ragala keeps Indian weightlifter’s dominance intact, wins fourth gold
Venkat Rahul Ragala has helped India secure their fourth gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games after lifting a combined 338 Kgs in the 85 KG category. Although Samoa’s Don Opeloge threatened to take the Gold in his last attempt, he failed to lift 191 Kgs and had to be content with just a silver.
While India are waiting to assert their dominance in shooting and wrestling in the second half of the tournament, Indian weightlifters have made it a habit to keep Indian fans’ in social media busy. After Mirabai Chanu, Sanjita Chanu and Sathish Sivalingam’s gold-winning run, Guntur-born weightlifter Venkat Rahul Ragala presented India their fourth gold medal of the Games.
The 2014 Summer Youth Olympics silver-medallist in the 77 kg category decided to jump to 85 kg for the Gold Coast Games and was successful in managing the highest lift of 151 Kg in the snatch event. However, he was given a neck-to-neck challenge by Don Opeloge, who also lifted similar weight successfully.
With the man from Samoa seemingly capable of achieving it, the Indian had to push his limit further in the clean and jerk event. While Rahul went for 182 KG in his first clean and jerk attempt, the Samoan went for 180 KG. The task was cut out for the duo as the second lift was going to decide who would walk away with the yellow medal. In the second attempt, while Rahul successfully lifted 187 kg, Opeloge failed to lift 188kg.
This had already guaranteed the Indian a medal before the final lift. However, in an attempt to seal the gold in his third attempt itself, Rahul attempted 191 kg and failed. However, to Rahul’s fortune, Opeloge also opted for an ambitious 191 kg after failing to lift 188 kg in the last attempt, and quite expectantly, failed. Consequently, the Indian ended up winning their second Gold of the day for India.
Another gold medal on Day 3 of the #CWG2018
— srijith (@srijithcfc) April 7, 2018
Congrats #venkatrahulragala #GC2018Weightlifting #GC2018 pic.twitter.com/2f7DoDcnN9