Singapore: Indian star hitchhiker Mirabai Chanu qualified for the 2022 Commonwealth Games in the 55kg weight class on Friday by taking the gold in the Singapore Weightlifting International here.
Chanu entered the 55kg weight class for the first time and was able to lift 191kg (86kg + 105kg) to top the podium in an uncompetitive field.
The second-placed lifter — Australia’s Jessica Sevastenko’s best effort was 167 kg (77 kg + 90 kg), a whopping 24 kg less than Chanu’s.
Elly Cassandra Englebert from Malaysia finished third with a best effort of 165kg (75kg + 90kg).
After withdrawing from the World Championships in December, this was Chanu’s first competitive event since the landmark performance of the Tokyo Games last year when she won India’s first silver medal in weightlifting at the Olympics.
The 27-year-old has also qualified for the CWG in the 49kg weight category based on her Commonwealth rankings.
However, to maximize India’s chances of winning more gold at the CWG, Chanu is expected to compete in the new 55kg weight class.
The Singapore Weightlifting International is a qualifying event for the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
The top eight lifters in each weight category in the current tournament will qualify directly for the 2022 CWG.
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