Hyderabad, Oct 31: Commonwealth championship medallist Sumati Devi staged a remarkable comeback to give India a face-saving bronze in the women`s 75-kg category, while Iran dominated the proceedings in men`s 105-kg category in weightlifting on the last day of competition at the first Afro-Asian Games here today. The 22-year-old Sumati cleared a combined 217.5 kg (97.5 in snatch, 120 in jerk) to win the bronze behind Yang Houqin of China (242.5 kg) and Ijeoma Nwatu of Nigeria (222.5) who won the gold and silver medals respectively. In the men`s 105-kg class, India finished at the bottom while Iran`s Mohammad Salehi Sharfd had a golden finish lifting 372.5 kg. Sharfd`s compatriot Rashid Sharif Sadeh finished a close second lifting 370 leaving the bronze to Mike Enamson Naleigh of Nigeria whose best effort was 360 kg. Asian junior champion and National Games medallist Sumati Devi appeared a bit shaky at the beginning and could log only 97.5 kg in snatch after she failed to clear 100 in her third and final attempt. Ahead of her after the snatch event were the Chinese champion Yang with 107.5 kg and two Nigerians Ijeoma Nwatu and Onubauye Sefiya who both cleared 100 each. It was in the clean and jerk event that Indian hopes raised after Sefiya failed to clear 120 kg in the last two attempts after her initial effort of 115 kg.
Bureau Report