KATHMANDU, July 25: Nepali weightlifters Kamala Shrestha and Sanju Chaudhary have set national records in the ongoing 19th Youth Asian, 24th Junior Women’s and 31st Junior Men’s Asian Weightlifting Championships being held at Army Physical Training and Sports Center, Lagankhel, on Tuesday.

To mark the national record, Kamala surpassed her own records and lifted 67 kg weight in snatch and 85 kg in clean and jerk events of the junior women’s 53 kg category to make a total of 152 kg. The previous national record was of 66 kg in snatch and 79 kg in clean and jerk making a total of 145 kg, which was set by Kamala herself in the Seventh National Games held in Eastern Region last year.  

Similarly Sanju lifted a total of 140 kg including 67 kg in snatch and 85 kg in clean and jerk events in junior women’s 58 kg category. The previous record of 58 kg in snatch and 79 kg in clean and jerk totaling 137 kg, was set by Devi Chaudhary in the Seventh National Games.

Kamala and Sanju were delighted over their new records. “My primary target was to break the national record by improving my performance. Overall, it was a great experience to participate in the international event being held at home,” said Kamala, who hails from Sunsari in eastern Nepal. 

However, she said that she wanted to lift more weight than she did in the tournament. “I had come into the championship with a target of lifting 71 kg in snatch and 90 kg in clean and jerk but I couldn’t do that. But still I am happy for the achievement so far,” Kamala added.   

Meanwhile the other national record breaker Sanju said that she was nervous at the beginning as it was her first international match. 

“Since it was my first international participation, I was nervous during the game. But still it was a big achievement for me as I hadn’t expected to set a new record,” said the 17-year-old weightlifter, who hails from Nepalgunj in the western Nepal. 

Another Nepali participant, Tika Maya Gurung, lifted 45 kg in snatch and 55 kg in clean and jerk in junior women’s 58 kg category. Likewise, Kabita Chaudhary lifted 41 kg in snatch and 50 kg in clean and jerk events of youth women’s section; and Sajaruddin Alam lifted 55 kg in snatch and 80 kg in clean and jerk events of junior men section. 

Meanwhile, China’s Gan Hongyan bagged six gold medals in women’s youth and junior sections. She lifted a total of 191 kg including 83 kg in snatch, 108 in clean and jerk events of both women’s youth and junior sections. 

 
• weightlifting
 
• nepal