CWG 2014 weightlifting: Vikas Thakur overcomes pain to bag silver

Glasgow: Young Vikas Thakur overcame pain to bag silver in weightlifting on the fifth day of competitions in the 20th Commonwealth Games. Writhing in pain, Thakur produced the lift of his lifetime to clinch the bronze in men’s 85kg weightlifting, as Indian lifters continued their spectacular show. Thakur lifted 333kg (150+183) to bag the silver while Richard Patterson of New Zealand won the gold with a total lift of 335kg (151+184). Canada’s Pascal Plamondon was third with 333kg (151+182), but Thakur bagged the silver on lesser bodyweight. In weightlifting, Thakur was trailing at third with a lift of 150kg after completion of snatch though the gap with the leaders – Patterson and Plamondon – was just one kilogram. [caption id=“attachment_1639069” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Vikas Thakur is seen after winning the medal. AFP[/caption] The Indian began with 142kg and then went onto lift 147kg and 150kg in his next two attempts. Patterson, the favourite and last year’s Commonwealth Championships winner, began with 147kg and lifted 151kg in his second attempt. He went for 154kg in his third attempt but failed to lift it. The 20-year-old Thakur had finished second in the Commonwealth Championships. In clean and jerk, Thakur went for 179kg in his first attempt, but could not lift it. But he was successful in his second attempt to jump to the top spot. Plamondon then lifted 182kg to take the top spot. Thakur was non-plussed and he came out to lift 182kg to total 333kg and equal Plamondon. With the addition of four more medals, India’s overall haul swelled to 25 with seven gold, 12 silver and seven bronze and were placed fourth in the standings. Australia were at the top with followed by England and hosts Scotland. PTI