National Games gold medallist Nansita Devi lived up to her reputation and put India into the winning mode by lifting a total 195 kg to claim bronze in the 69 kg women's weightlifting at the Afro Asian Games, where China continues to have a dream run, on Thursday.
Nansita survived some anxious moments as Sanok Supasiri of Thailand gave her a tough fight for the bronze medal. However, the Thai girl had to withdraw following an injury during the event, thus enabling the 24-year old Indian to take the bronze with a combined effort of 85 kg in snatch and 110 in jerk.
China continued its dream run, winning on all the five days the eves competed and Thursday was no different as Lie Cao comfortably lifted 240 kg for the gold, leaving silver for Therlemont Janet Marie of Seychelles, who cleared 210 kgs.
In the men's section, Cui Wenhua had a golden lift of 365 kgs. Dmitriy Nomofilov of Kazakhstan and Foulddivan Abdolreza of Iran both lifted an identical 342.5 kg, but the former won the silver on body weight.
Twenty-year old Lei Cao was way ahead of others when she started with 100kg and did not come for her second attempt as that was the highest lift. She impressed the near-packed auditorium when she asked for 140 in the second attempt after clearing 117.5 in the first.
Though Cao failed in the second, she cleared 140 kg in the final round to leap to top spot while the Seychelles woman added up 95 and 110 to settle for second place.
Nansita failed in her first effort to clear 85 kg snatch and made it in the second which remained her tally. Making some amends in the jerk, she started with 105 and had a flawless lift of 110 in the third attempt to log 195 kgs for third spot.
Sanok from Tahiland, after lifting 100 in the first attempt, went for 105 and was injured in the process which brightened the prospects of Nansita.
The men's section has seen a keen tussle between China, Khazakistan and Iran and the tall Chinaman Cui Wenhua kept his cool to lift 180 in snatch and 185 jerk to go to the top slot while Dmitriy Nomofilov of Kazakistan weighed 94.55 kg against Abdolreza Foulddivan of Iran, who weighed 94.95, to win the silver in body weight decision.
Gurminder Singh of India finished fifth at 327.5 behind the fighting Nigerian, Mathias Augustine, who logged 340 kg.
