Weightlifters win five Gold medals at C&OW C'ships

Chris Dhambarage

WEIGHTLIFTING: The Sri Lanka weightlifting team put up a magnificent performance to win five gold medals and one bronze medal at the 2006 Commonwealth and Oceana weightlifting championships worked off in Western Samoa during the weekend.

This was easily the best effort by the Sri Lanka weightlifting team in any major international tournament. Another significant fact was that five of the seven competitors were successful in winning a medal for their country.

In addition Sri Lanka were invited for this tournament for the first time by the Commonwealth and Oceana Weightlifting Association which is affiliated to the International Weightlifting Federation. The best effort for Sri Lanka certainly came from the dynamic Ransilu Jayatilleke who won a gold medal each in the junior and senior championships.

This was a creditable performance from Jayatilleke who was up against a host of many experienced weightlifters from Asia and Europe who were vying for honours. Jayatilleke lived upto expectations and lifted a total of 280 kilograms which helped him to win a gold medal in the junior and senior categories while competing in the 94 kgs weight class event on both occasions.

Meanwhile the Commonwealth Games gold medallist Chinthana Vidanage also produced a repeat performance to win the 62 kgs class event while lifting a total of 267 kilograms. Sri Lanka's fourth gold medal came in the form of M. J. Emil who clinched the 56 kgs weight category class event with another superlative performance.

K. G. Asanga also was successful in winning two medals while competing in the junior and senior weight class events. He won a gold medal in the 52 kgs weight category and followed up with another pleasing performance where he won a bronze medal in the same weight class senior championships.

The other two competitors who represented Sri Lanka at this tournament were M. Dayan and T. M. Jayatilleke with Athula Wijewickrema as the coach. Sri Lanka's performances at this championships was quite encouraging as they are expected to win at least three gold medals and four silver medals at the South Asian Games (SAF) to be staged in Colombo next month.

The President of the Sri Lanka Weightlifting Association Gunaratne Banda said that their intention was to give these competitors the maximum international exposure in preparation for the South Asian Games. But they have performed exceptionally well and are well set to make their presence felt when the Games gets underway on August 18.