The 10th South Asian Games gold medalist Adhikari, who participated in men´s 77kg weight category, lifted 121kg in snatch and 161kg in clean and jerk for a record total of 282 kg on Friday at the Central Training Hall of weightlifting in Kathmandu. [break]
Adhikari broke his own records, which he had set in the domestic qualifying tournament of the 11th South Asian Games. Adhikari had lifted 112 kg in snatch and 154 kg in clean and jerk then.
"As a Nepal Army athlete, I was not there in the Sixth National Games. This was my chance to prove my caliber and to get into the special training program for the upcoming South Asian Games," said Adhikari. "As I set new national records today (Friday), I´ll look forward for the South Asian gold again," he added.
NPC´s Pun, who participated in the women´s +75kg weight category, lifted 67kg in snatch and 90kg in clean and jerk for a total of 157 kg to set three national records.
Tara Devi Pun tries to lift 93kg weight. (Photo: Bikash Karki)
Earlier, Ram Maya Thapa had the records in her name. Thapa had lifted 58kg in snatch and 78 kg in clean and jerk for a total of 136kg during the First South Asian Weightlifting Championship held in Nepalgunj earlier this year.
"I have changed my weight category for this tournament and I succeeded in setting new national records. I´m happy," said Pun, who used to participate in women´s 75kg in the earlier tournaments.
Meanwhile, Devi Kumari Chaudhary of NPC set new national record in the snatch of women´s 53 kg weight category. Chaudhary lifted 58kg in snatch to break her own record of 57 kg. She lifted 70kg in clean and jerk to claim the gold medal in the event.
"All these records have encouraged us and we´ll keep on working hard to expect more medals in the upcoming South Asian Games," said Tilak Raut, chief coach of the game at the National Sports Council.
Meanwhile, Kabita Chaudhary from Saptari won gold in women´s 48kg as she lifted 53kg in snatch and 60kg in clean and jerk. Shanti Chaudhary (50+66), Uttam Khatri (65+75) and Laxmi Ban (52 +60) clinched gold in women´s 58kg, 63kg and 75kg respectively.
Likewise, Laxman Ranjeet (77+97), Bikash Thapa (106+120) and Raju Rana (95+120) won gold in men´s 56kg, 62kg and 69kg weight category respectively.
In men´s 85 kg, Dinesh Shrestha of Nepal Army lifted 107kg in snatch and 130kg in clean and jerk to win gold. Bhairab Singh Thapa (95+125), Bipin Mharjan (95 +117) and Gopal Bahadur Shrestha (112+147) clinched gold in men´s 94kg, 105kg and +105kg weight category respectively.
National Sports Council Member Secretary Yuvaraj Lama handed over awards to the winners.
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