World Weightlifting Championship | Mirabai breaks record but misses out on podium

Mirabai’s earlier national record was 199kg (88kg+111kg) which she recorded in the Asian Weightlifting Championship in China in April. Her goal was to reach the 210kg mark until the Olympics, and crossing the 200kg mark here is the first step towards it.  The gold medal went to Jiang Huihua of China who set a new world record with an effort 212kg (94kg+118kg). The earlier record was held by Hou Zhihui of China, who had lifted 210kg. Incidentally, Zhihui clinched the silver medal, lifting 211kg (94kg+117kg) in the gold level Olympic qualifier breaking her previous record.

North Korea’s Ri Song Gum claimed the final spot on the podium by lifting 204kg (89kg+115kg). After clearing 87kg in snatch, Mirabai began her clean and jerk with a 110kg and then lifted 114kg. In her third attempt, she failed to lift 118kg which would have won her the bronze with a total of 205kg. In World Championships and continental championships, unlike the Olympics, medals are awarded separately for the snatch, clean and jerk, and total lift. In the Olympics, medals are awarded only for total lift.

Mirabai had also clinched the gold medal in 49kg at the EGAT Cup, which was the first of the six Olympic qualifying events for her. The other Indian in the fray, 18-year-old Sneha Soren finished second in group D of the women’s 55kg event lifting 173kg (72kg+101kg) which earned her second place in the eight-woman field of the easiest group competition.