India’s Weightlifting Campaign Ends With Sivalingam’s Early Exit

India’s weightlifting campaign at the Rio Olympics ended in disappointment with Sathish Kumar Sivalingam finishing fourth in the men’s 77kg event Group B category.

National record holder Sivalingam lifted 148kg in snatch and 181kg in clean and jerk for a total of 329kg to finish fourth in the six-lifter competition.

Sivalingam, who had a won gold in the 2014 Commonwealth Games, holds the national record of 336kg (149+187) in men’s 77kg.

Group B is meant for lower-ranked competitors who have registered lower entry weights and by finishing fourth even in this category, Sivalingam has no chance to be on the podium. Group A of the same event will be competed among higher-ranked lifters who have registered with higher entry weights.

Colombia’s Caicedo Andres Mauricio took the top spot with a total lift of 346kg (155+191) while Mata Andres Eduardo of Spain and Nico Mueller of Germany were second and third with total lifts of 343kg (153+190) and 332kg (151+181) in the Group B event.

The other Indian lifter, Saikhom Mirabai Chanu had failed to even lift her entry weight of 104kg in clean and jerk to end her 48kg category event as DNF (Did Not Finished).