Highlights, Commonwealth Games 2018 Gold Coast: Weightlifters Sanjitha Chanu, Deepak Lather bring India glory on Day 2

India’s Kiran Tak finishes last in the women’s 100m backstroke final with a time of 1.47.95 

Here’s the medals tally of Day 2 of Commonwealth Games 2018 

India’s Saraswati Rout faced the weightlifter’s ultimate nightmare – of registering a no-lift even at the entry weight – in the women’s 58 kg class competition.

Having lifted 82kg in snatch when winning the bronze medal in the Commonwealth Championship last year, she was expected to start well with 78 kg but failed in three attempts. The 22-year-old from Khurda in Odisha dropped the loaded barbell behind her shoulder twice, sandwiching an attempt in which she was unable to raise the barbell during the squat.

Saraswati’s failure to register a lift meant that she would not feature in the clean and jerk variant and India would have to be happy with a haul of two gold, one silver and a bronze medal from six events in the weightlifting competitions.

In the men’s cycling event, Sahil Kumar, Ranjit Singh and Sanuraj Sanandraj fail to qualify directly in the heats. They will no go through the first-round repechage

Amit Panghal beats Ghana’s Tetteh

Panghal stood his ground and threw punches left, right and centre. Those jabs were accurate and the Indian’s efforts paid dividends. 

Judge 1: 30-26

Judge 2: 30-26

Judge 3: 30-27

Judge 4: 30-27

Judge 5: 30-25

​Amit Panghal enters the ring for his bout against Tetteh Sulemanu of Ghana in 46-49kg Round of 16.

Amit gets a few decent punches but Ghanaian is not holding back either.

The women’s 58kg category weightlifting event is underway at the Commonwealth Games 2018. 

India’s Saraswati Rout is in action at this event and has declared a starting weight of 78 kg in her 1st Snatch attempt

Joshna is the only remaining Indian singles squash player in the fray as Vikram Malhotra and Dipika Pallikal lost their respective Round of 16 clashes. 

While Dipika lost to England’s Alison Waters 3-11, 6-11, 2-11, Vikram went down fighting 6-11, 11-8, 6-11, 6-11 against top-seeded Nick Matthew of England

Joshna Chinappa beats Australia’s Tamika Saxby 11-6, 11-8, 11-4 in 22 minutes to advance into the quarter-final. 

Joshna has won the 1st game 11-6 to take the lead in the Round of 16 clash against Taxby.

Meanwhile, Dipika has got off to a disastrous start. She lost 3-11 in the opening game but is putting up a fightback in the 2nd

It is now time for some squash action at the Commonwealth Games. 

India’s Joshna Chinappa takes on home favourite Tamika Saxby on the Show Court. Meanwhile, on Court 1, Dipika Pallikal Karthik is facing England’s Alison Waters

India 5-0 Scotland

Chopra and Reddy register a straight-game win over Campbell-Macpherson to win the final match of the tie. The Indian duo outsmarted the Scottish pair with their defensive style of play. 

Another day, another clean sweep for the Indian shuttlers. They beat Scotland in each of the five disciplines to lead their group. 

Saina Nehwal beats Julie Macpherson 21-14, 21-12

Kidambi Srikanth beats Kieran Merrilees 21-18, 21-2

Sikki Reddy-Ashwini Ponnappa beat Kirsty Gilmour Eleanor O’Donnell 21-8, 21-12

Chirag Shetty-Satwiksairaj Rankireddy beat Patrick Machugh-Adam Hall 21-16, 21-19

Pranaav Jerry Chopra-Sikki Reddy beat Martin Campbell-Macpherson 21-17, 21-15

​​Sikki Reddy-Pranaav Jerry Chopra lead 1-0

The Indian mixed doubles pair wins the first game 21-17 in 18 minutes against Martin Campbell and Julie Macpherson of Scotland. Chopra has been accurate from the baseline, while Reddy showed how quick she is at the net.  

The second game gets underway.

That was a superb win for India’s No 1 men’s doubles pair

That's a rout!⚡️@satwiksairaj and @Shettychirag04 defeat Patrick Machugh and Adam Hall, 2⃣1⃣- 1⃣6⃣, 2⃣1⃣- 1⃣9⃣ in the fourth game of the third match of the Mixed Team Group Play Stage - Group A!#ShareTheGlory #CWG2018 @GC2018

— Premier Badminton League (@PBLIndiaLive) April 6, 2018

Indian teenager Deepak Lather is unlikely to forget the glory or bust attempt that Samoa’s Vaipava Ioane made and gifted him the bronze medal in the men’s 69kg class weightlifting competition. The 28-year-old Samoan opted to attempt lifting 175kg in the clean and jerk variant his quest to land the gold medal but failed in two successive tries. It left him with a total of 292 kgs, three kgs less than the young Indian who finished with the bronze medal. Vaipava Ioane, whose snatch of 125 kgs left him with a lot of work to do in clean and jerk, sought to catapult his way past the leaders Welshman Gareth Evans (299 kgs), Sri Lankan Indika Dissanayake (297 kgs) and Deepak Lather.

It means that India have four medals from five weightlifting events, adding to the two golds won by Mirabai Chanu (women’s 48kg class) and Sanjita Chanu (women’s 53kg class) and the silver by Gururaja Poojary (men’s 56kg).

India 4-0 Scotland 

The young duo of Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy beat Adam Hall Patrick Machugh 21-16, 21-19 in the men’s doubles match. The young attacking pair mixed their shots perfectly both from the forecourt and backcourt to unsettle the Scottish pair. 

It was a nervy wait for Deepak Lather but with Samoan Vaipava Ioane missing his attempt at 175 kgs, the 18-year-old wins India’s fourth medal and its first bronze!

Deepak bettered his personal best of 132 kgs + 155 kgs with a lift of 136 kgs and 159 kgs. 

Wales’ Gareth Evans wins gold while Sri Lankan Indika Dissanayake claims silver.

DEEPAK LATHER WINS BRONZE IN MEN’S 69KG EVENT

Shetty-Rankireddy lead 11-8

The Indian pair takes a three-point lead over Machugh and Hall at the mid-game break of the second game.  

Will Shetty and Rankireddy win this match in straight games?

What a valiant attempt that was from Deepak Lather! The teen had increased his third lift to 162 kgs in an attempt to get an overall lift of 298 kgs and in the gold medal position. However, he is unable to execute his jerk and fails. It will be an anxious wait for Deepak to see if he is at least come away with a bronze.

Chirag Shetty-Satwiksairaj Rankireddy win opening game: 21-16

After trailing 12-15, the Indian duo stage an impressive fightback to take a 1-0 lead in the men’s doubles tie. Machugh and Hall were stretched at the backcourt after the mid-game break

The second game gets underway.

Chirag Shetty-Satwiksairaj Rankireddy trail

Scottish duo of Patrick Machugh and Adam Hall have taken a slender one-point lead over the young Indian pair at the mid-game interval of the opening game.

After failing to lift 138 kgs in the snatch category, Deepak Lather decides to lift 155 kgs in his first clean and jerk attempt, two kgs more than what he had declared before the finals. The Indian teen opts for the power jerk and nails it to take the overall lead. Some concern there as he flexes his right elbow after the lift. One hopes he hasn’t injured himself. 

India 3-0 Scotland

In the third match, the newly-paired duo of Sikki Reddy and Ashwini Ponnappa beat Scottish pair Kirsty Gilmour and Eleanor O’Donnell 21-8, 21-12 in the women’s doubles tie. 

Next up, men’s doubles: 

India’s Chirag Shetty-Satwiksairaj Rankireddy take on Patrick Machugh and Adam McHall in the fourth match of the tie. Will the Scottish duo register a consolation win?  

Quarter 4 on. India need goals despite leading 2-1. Malaysia can create and score. India have wasted two PC’s in Q4. Rani delaying a hit and with Gurjit off the field there was no one to drag flick. 7 PC’s for India in this match. It’s a crucial match for India. They need to win to have any hope of reaching the CWG semis after their loss to Wales on Thursday.

The pair of Sikki Reddy and Ponnappa are in fine form this. Unlike Saina and Srikanth, they duo have been dominant right from the get-go. After winning the second game, they take an 11-5 lead at the break in the second game.

India lead, but concerns still linger

Q4 begins. India lead 2-1. Still very close here. Malaysia really playing well. They have India under pressure. India unable to hold the ball; find the right players. Indians also not filling in the gaps, nobody moving up to receive. Surprising. Small defensive error could cost India dear. The Indian forwards need to counter with pace and get the PC’s.

Indian teenager Deepak Lather’s brave attempt to lift 138 kgs and take the lead in the snatch variant was in vain but with 136 kgs he was second to Sri Lanka’s Indika Dissanayake (137 kgs). Samoa’s Ioane Vaipava Nevo, who was expected to make a run for gold after having won silver at the Commonwealth Championship last year, was unable to lift more than 125 kgs and is left hoping for a good showing in the clean and jerk variant to get among the medals. Welshman Gareth Evans was another lifter with 136 kgs in snatch.

Sikki Reddy-Ashwini Ponnappa in red-hot form

Meanwhile in badminton, Sikki Reddy-Ashwini Ponnappa have raced to a 17-6 lead in the first game against Kirsty Gilmour and Eleanor O’Donnell. A win from them could seal the tie in India’s favour after Saina Nehwal and Kidambi Srikanth gave India a handsome lead in their singles matches.

Malaysia get the equaliser. But India snatch the lead back with a powerful flick from Gurjit Kaur. Malaysia are playing well and scored off their 2nd PC. India need to inject some energy and push both the flanks to create some confusion in the Malaysian defence. They can’t let Malaysia dictate the play from here. India need more goals to make the situation safe.

Kidambi Srikanth is on fire! The Indian shows exactly why he is ranked No 2 in the world as he races to a 20-0 lead in the second game against Merrilees​ before clinching 21-2. Srikanth wins the match 21-18, 21-2 and gives India a 2-0 lead in the tie. 

Next up, it will be the women’s doubles pair of Sikki Reddy and Ashwini Ponnappa against the Scottish pair of Kirsty Gilmour and Eleanor O’Donnell.

Unlucky for Deepak. The Indian had gone for 138 kgs in his third attempt to take the lead but failed. At the end of the snatch category, Deepak is tied second with Gareth Evans behind Sri Lanka’s Indika Dissanayake.

Deepak nails his second attempt at 136 kgs but the experienced Gareth Evans is breathing down his neck. The 31-year-old Welshman successfully lift 136 kgs in his third attempt and the pressure will be on Deepak to take the lead at the end of the snatch category.

High praise from the legend himself for Sanjita Chanu

Golden start to the day!! Continuing from where she left off 4 years ago in Glasgow. Congratulations, Khumukcham Sanjita Chanu on giving 🇮🇳 it's 2nd Gold Medal 🥇 in the on-going #GC2018. Proud moment. pic.twitter.com/vcQfkIU77I

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) April 6, 2018

At the end of the second quarter, India lead 1-0, but they will be hugely disappointed with their performance. They have hardly attacked in the 2nd Q. Malaysia have been the better team in terms of structure and defending. India looks frustrated; unable to play their game. India had a PC in the last minute but surprisingly Gurjit took a hit and not a flick. The Malaysian goalkeeper made a wonderful save. India need something special to break the Malaysian defence down. Yet, patience is the key and India can score more.

Deepak Lather is the last lifter to make his first attempt and the 18-year-old successfully lifts 132 kgs. A great start by the teenager.

Kidambi Srikanth wins first game

World No 2 Srikanth has not been able to assert his dominance in this match so far. But he’s still raced away to a 21-18 win in the first game over Scotland’s World No 102 Kieran Merrilees.

Midway through the second quarter, Malaysia are holding their own against India. They are attacking and defending well. In fact, tactically they are better than India. Not getting into groups but stretching themselves so that there are no gaping gaps. India lead 1-0 but Malaysia are showing some grit.

Kidambi Srikanth holds slender lead in mixed team event

Kidambi Srikanth should be easily striding to victory here. But he’s not! Scotland’s Kieran Merrilees, who is World No 107, is playing the game of his life to stay on Srikanth’s heels.

At the end of the first quarter, India lead 1-0. However, it has been quite scrappy from them after they took the lead. In the last minute, Malaysia had a PC but couldn’t find the equaliser. India are playing slightly rough and even got a green card when Deepika was sent off for two minutes. Perplexing as to why India refuse to rotate the ball and keep possession to settle the team down.

After wasting two penalty corners, India finally score off their 3rd as Gurjit sends her drag-flick in the top corner. Her powerful, rising flick beats the Malaysian GK and India lead 1-0. They are stretching the play around the flanks. India need more goals to increase the pressure on the Malaysians.

India’s second match in the mixed team event will see Kidambi Srikanth take on Scotland’s 107-ranked Kieran Merrilees.

And Saina wraps up the match quick time! The Indian started slowly but grew into the game and wins the match 21-14, 21-12. India take a 1-0 lead against Scotland in the tie.

GOAL! Gurjit Kaur gives India the lead against Malaysia! The drag-flicker makes no mistake from a penalty corner and India deservedly take the lead inside five minutes.

India vs Malaysia gets underway. This is India’s 2nd match in Pool A after the shock defeat to Wales on Thursday. In a way, it’s a big match for the women. They have to win. In terms of the past, India have never lost to Malaysia in women’s hockey. In 32 matches played, India have won 29 and drawn three.

Saina has imposed herself in this match and Macpherson has no answers for the Indian’s attacking play. Saina has raced to a 11-5 lead at the break in the second game.

After slumping to a 3-2 defeat to Wales in their opening match, the Indian Women’s hockey team will look to bounce back against Malaysia. Here’s the starting lineups for both the sides.

Macpherson was neck-to-neck with Saina before the break at 10-10. But the Hyderabadi shows her class to race away and clinch the first game 21-14.

Here is the starting list for the men’s 69kg class. India’s Deepak Lather will be in action and Wales’ Gareth Evans and Malaysia’s Muhammad Erry Hidayat will provide Lather with a tough challenge.

Saina Nehwal hasn’t found her rhythm yet and Julie Macpherson is taking advantage of it. It has been a see-saw battle so far but the Indian takes a one-point lead at the break in the first game.

India take on Scotland in their Group A clash

India and Scotland are first and second in Group A having won both their previous ties. The winner of this tie will top Group A. 

First match up is the women’s singles match where Saina Nehwal takes on Julie Macpherson.

India’s Naman Tanwar beats Haruna Mhando

19-year-old Naman Tanwar breezes into the quarter-finals of the 91kg boxing event with an easy win over Haruna Mhando with an unanimous decision. There was no doubt over the result.

Deepak Lather lays down the gauntlet in men’s 69kg event

India’s 17-year-old Deepak Lather makes his intent to be among the medallists in the 69kg class weightlifting competition, declaring 132 kgs as his entry weight in snatch – the highest among 14 competitors. Samoa’s Ioane Vaipava Nevo, Sri Lankan Indika Dissanayake and Malaysian Muhammad Erry Hidayat, a second generation weightlifter who is seeking to emulate his father Hamidon Hidayat as a CWG medallist, will look to be in the mix as well, making this a heady competition.

India’s Naman Tanwar has upper-hand after two rounds 

Tanwar got hit quite a few times in the first two periods due to his open stance. But it’s the Tanzanian who seems to be on shaky ground. He got a solid right hook on Tanwar’s face early on, and promptly slipped and fell. Tanwar has landed some strong blows on his rival in the blue corner despite his high-guard stance.  The Indian also has a few inches in height on the Tanzanian and is using his reach to good advantage.

India’s Naman Tanwar is in action

19-year-old Naman Tanwar is taking on Tanzania’s Haruna Mhando in the 91kg round-of-16 match right now.

Swimming: India’s Kiran Tak finishes last in heats

Para-swimmer Kiran Tak finishes last in the Women’s S9 100m backstroke heats. 

Weightlifting: Sanjita Chanu clinches gold after a dramatic finale

Sanjita Chanu picks up her second Commonwealth Games gold medal, adding the 53kg class crown to the 48kg class gold she won in Glasgow in 2014. It is India’s second gold medal in Gold Coast after her Manipur teammate Mirabai Chanu’s success in the 48kg class yesterday. Sanjita Chanu had to beat back a challenge by Papua New Guinea’s Loa Dika Toua and lift a total of 192 kgs, including a Games Record of 84 kgs in snatch and 108 kgs in clean and jerk. Her performance here should be a catalyst in her securing the Arjuna Award this year without having to take legal recourse. Her coaches may have been conservative in deciding not to get her to attempt improving on her personal best of 85 kgs in snatch, perhaps being influenced by the fact that Papua New Guinean could turn the tables in clean and jerk. In the event, Loa Dika Toua finished a good 10 kgs behind the younger lifter from India.

SANJITA CHANU CLAIMS GOLD IN WOMEN’S 53 KGS WEIGHTLIFTING EVENT

Weightlifting: Sanjita one lift away from gold

Sanjita increases her overall lead by 10 kgs after nailing her 108 kgs lift. Dika Toua fails in lifting 109 kgs and the gold is Sanjita’s to lose.

Weightlifting: Sanjita nails first clean and jerk lift

Sanjita Chanu retakes her lead with a lift of 104 kgs. She now leads Dika Toua by six kgs. 

Weightlifting: Dika Toua takes lead in her first attempt

The Papua New Guinean successfully lifts 102 kgs in her first clean and jerk lift to take the overall lead.

Gymnastics: India women’s team complete its set of four routines

Pranati Nayak and Aruna Budda Reddy have logged 13.250 and 13.200 points in the vault and will have to endure a wait till late evening to find out if they have made it to the medal round. Aruna may have been distracted by the loss of her coach Brij Kishore yesterday to cancer in Hyderabad. For the record, in sub-division 1 (and there are four sub-divisions of 10 gymnasts each), South Africa’s  Claudia Cummins has the best score in vault with 13.400.

Weightlifting: Sanjita takes 3 kgs lead after snatch

Here is how the lifters faired in the snatch event

Weightlifting: Sanjita Chanu takes the lead

Sanjita Chanu takes the lead with a Commonwealth Games record snatch of 84 kgs, improving on compatriot Swati Singh’s 83 kgs lift in Glasgow. Canada’s Rachel Leblanc-Bazinet takes the second spot with 81 kgs ahead of Papua New Guinea’s Loa Dika Toua. It would appear that the Indian camp has been a bit careful with declaring weights for Sanjita. She had lifted 85kg in the Commonwealth Championships last year and fans would have expected her to raise the bar and seek a personal best on her third attempt.

Weightlifting: Sanjita Chanu breaks CWG record in snatch!

Sanjita follows up her 83 kgs 2nd attempt with a CWG record-breaking lift of 84 kgs successful. The Manipuri hardly broke a sweat in her attempts and is on course to winning India’s second gold of the Games.

Weightlifting: Sanjita Chanu nails her first attempt

With rival Dika Toua lifting 80 kgs in her second attempt, the pressure was on Sanjita but the Manipuri successfully lifts 81 kgs in her first attempt. Dika Tua is unsuccessful in her third attempt of 82 kgs.

Weightlifting: PNG’s Loa Dika Toua successful in her first attempt

Dika Toua, who had earlier declared her first attempt at 80 kgs, lowered it to 78 kgs which she has successfully lifted. Sanjita Chanu awaits her turn.

Weightlifting: Papua New Guinea’s Loa Dika Toua is Sanjita’s closest rival

Papua New Guinea’s three-time Olympian Loa Dika Toua, competing in her fourth Commonwealth Games, has thrown down the gauntlet to the 24-year-old Indian by declaring that she would join the fray at 80 kgs too in the snatch variant.

Weightlifting: Sanjita Chanu favourite to clinch gold

Good morning! India’s hunt for medals in the Carrara Sports Arena 1 where the weightlifting competitions in the CWG are being held resumes through Sanjita Chanu in the women’s 53kg class. She has declared 80kg as her entry weight in snatch. Having won the Commonwealth Championship last year with a total of 195kg (85+110), she goes in as the favourite to win gold today.

Weightlifting: Sanjita Chanu up against a strong field 

Sanjita won gold in Glasgow in 2014 in the 48 kgs category. This time around, she has moved up to the 53 kgs category. The Manipuri is one of the favourites to finish on the podium but keep an eye out for Papua New Guinea’s Loa Dika Toua, who is the defending champion in this category.

Indian athletes in action on Day 2

Click here   to   see the full schedule of events of Indian athletes on Day 2 .

England top medal tally on Day 1, India 7th 

England lead the medal tally with six golds closely followed by hosts Australia who have five golds to their name. India, meanwhile, are 7th in the medal tally.

Weightlifters Mirabai Chanu and Gururaja Poojary shine for India on Day 1

Mirabai Chanu broke the Commonwealth Games record on her way to winning gold in the women’s 48kg weightlifting event while Gururaja Poojary won India’s first medal as he finished second in the men’s 56kg event. The badminton team led by Saina Nehwal and Kidambi Srikanth trounced Sri Lanka and Pakistan 5-0. However, the women’s hockey team slumped to a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Wales. 

Click here to read G Rajaraman’s wrap of Day 1 of the Commonwealth Games .

Hello and welcome to the live coverage of Day 2 of the Commonwealth Games 2018 at Gold Coast. It was a successful first day for India as they won two medals in weightlifting. Mirabai Chanu set a new CWG record to bag gold, while Gururaja Poojary earned a silver medal.

On Day 2 more weightlifters will be in action, so will be the Indian women’s hockey team. Stick around as we bring you all the live updates from Gold Coast