Lifters Chanu, Rani dedicate medals to crisis-ridden Manipur

New Delhi:  Weightlifters Soniya Chanu and Sandhya Rani, who won a silver and a bronze respectively in the women's 48 kg class in the Commonwealth Games, on Tuesday dedicated their medals to crisis-ridden Manipur, hoping that peace would soon return to the insurgency-hit state.

Part of the Indian contingent that won two silver and two bronze in the men's and women's event yesterday at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, both Rani and Chanu said, even while they were preparing for the event in a Patiala camp, Manipur always occupied their thoughts.

Manipur has faced a series of blockades and bandhs, which led to the crisis of essential goods in recent time.

"I want to dedicate this award to my state Manipur which has witnessed some tough time. I hope that my medal will bring some change in the state. Even at the camp, I was thinking about it (state)," said Chanu.

Chanu cleared 167 kg to stand second in the event behind Nigerian woman Augustina Nwaokolo who hoisted 175 kg to win the gold medal.

Chanu and Nwaokolo were tied with the same clearance of 94 kg in the snatch competition but the latter, who weighed marginally less than the Indian woman, settled the issue in the clean and jerk category by clearing 8 kgs more.

Rani, who lifted 70kg in snatch, 95kg in clean and jerk for a total of 165kg, hoped that her feat would inspire others from the state to come forward and participate in the sporting events.

"Like Chanu, I am also dedicating my medal to the state. I always want peace and normalcy there and hope that my feat would inspire others," said Rani.

Rani's total was equal to that of Zaira Zakaria of South Africa, but the Indian was awarded the bronze on lesser bodyweight.

Yesterday, men lifters Sukhen Dey and Srinivasa Rao also won silver and bronze medals respectively in 56kg category.