Orissa eves shine at National Weightlifting Championship

Berhampur (Orissa): Orissa women weightlifters had a great outing at the National Weightlifting Championship as they managed to bag eight gold medals.

Women lifters, including Tikina Gopal and Minati Sethi (Railways) won three gold medals each in the five-day national meet, while Sita Jena claimed two gold. There were 15 participants from Orissa including eight men and seven women. While Gopal and Sethi bagged three gold in 53kg and 58kg categories respectively, Jena defeated Rajwant Kaur of Punjab to clinch two gold in clean and jerk and total in 63kg category. "We are very proud to get gold in our home town," said Gopal and Jena. Meanwhile, Commonwealth Games gold medallist K Ravi Kumar who could not participate in the event due to illness, expressed his disappointment. "Due to injuries in my shoulder, I could not participated in the event, which was held in my home town," a disappointed Ravi said. PTI