Commonwealth Games 2022 weightlifting: Former embroider Achinta Sheuli stitches third gold to India’s medal tally

Achinta Sheuli secured India’s third gold medal at the Commonwealth Games 2022 in the men’s 73kg weightlifting event on Sunday.

Mirabai Chanu (women’s 49kg) and Jeremy Lalrinnunga (men’s 67kg) are India’s other gold medallists so far. India have won six medals at Birmingham 2022, all of them in weightlifting.

The 20-year-old Achinta Sheuli lifted a total of 313kg (snatch – 143kg; clean and jerk – 170kg) at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in Solihull to win his category.

The medal was yet another big step forward for Achinta Sheuli, who was forced to take up embroidery to support his family after his father, a cycle-rickshaw driver, passed away when he was young.

Achinta Sheuli, won the junior world championships silver medal at Tashkent last year, successfully lifted 137kg with his first snatch attempt before setting a new CWG record with a 140kg hoist in his second attempt.

The third try was even better as Achinta equalled his own personal best with a 143kg snatch and took a good five kilograms to lead over Malaysia’s Erry Hidayat, son of former Commonwealth Games champion Hamidon Hidayat, heading into the clean and jerk section.

Achinta Sheuli cleared 166kg in his first attempt but faltered with his second attempt at 170kg - a new Games record. The Indian’s final attempt at the same weight, however, was a successful one and challenged Hidayat to log a 176kg successful lift to jump into jump into the gold medal spot.

The mark, however, proved too steep for the Malaysian, who had to stay content with the silver courtesy a total lift of 303kg (138kg+165kg).

"The gold medal wasn't in my mind and I was just trying to give my best. I could have done better but Hidayat was putting up a good challenge, so me and my coaches decided to play it safe," Achinta Sheuli said after the event.

Canada’s Shad Darsigny clinched the bronze medal with a 298kg (135kg+166kg) effort.