India’s 21-year-old Sanket Sargar from Sangli, Maharashtra opened India’s tally as he wins the silver medal in Men’s 55kg weightlifting. This is the youngster’s first appearance at such a big level. Sargar led after the snatch event lifting 113 kg. Later, he lifted 135 kg in clean and jerk in the first attempt. However, he failed to lift 139 kg twice and bagged a silver as he lifted a total of 248 kgs. While he made attempts to lift 139, he injured himself a bit. However, the joy of winning a medal for the country surpasses every pain.
Sanket missed the gold just by one kg. Mohamad Aniq of Malaysia lifted 249 kgs (107kg+ 142kg) to win the gold. Whereas, Sri Lanka’s Dilanka Isuru won the bronze medal for lifting 225kgs (105kg +125kg).
Congratulatory messages and Tweets poured in as he won the medal. Sanket Sargar’s story is a very inspiring one as he was working at a Paan Shop till 4 years back. From watching the 2018 Commonwealth on Television to winning a silver at the Commonwealth Games 2022, Sargar has come a long way. However, this is still a long way to go.
Sanket Sargar wins India’s first medal in Weightlifting in Commonwealth Games 2022
Sagar never dreamt of being a weightlifter himself, it was his father’s dream that he was working to make a reality. It was only 4 years back that Sagar was working g in a paan shop and now he has won a silver medal for the country. Although he has been training hard for 5 years by then, seeing Gururaja win a medal in Gold Coast Olympics made him make an instant mental note that he wants to do the same.
“I remember it very clearly. It was around 6 am — very early in the morning — on April 5 in 2018. That was when Gururaja bhaiyaa (Poojari Gururaja) was competing in the Commonwealth Games in the 56kg category. I remember one customer wanted a masala paan, so that’s what I was making. At the same time, I was watching the weightlifting competition on the TV in the shop. Right then, I decided agli baar mai jaunga. Pakka I will be there. Jaunga hi jaaunga. Bas mehnat karna hai. Aur kya karna hai? (I decided the next time I’m going to be there for sure. The only thing I have to do is work hard. What else is there to it).”
