India snatches victory in Weightlifting
The Games first Gold medal has been awarded in the Women’s 48kg class to Indian dynamo, Kunjarani Devi Nameirakpam who outlifted Canada’s Dozois-Prévost.
Australia’s Erika Yamasaki carried the nation's weight on her shoulders and showed enormous courage to finish third.
Weightlifting has a strong following in many parts of the Commonwealth, with thirteen countries winning medals at the Manchester Games in 2002. Nations like Cameroon, Malaysia, Nauru, and Somoa are making their presence felt alongside the traditional powers.
First introduced into the Commonwealth Games in Auckland in 1950, weightlifting has been in the program ever since. England, Australia and Canada have collected the most medals, although India has become a powerhouse in recent times particularly in the lighter weight categories.
For only the second time, categories for women have been included after being introduced in Manchester in 2002.
A major change for 2006 is that medals will be available in the total category only for each weight division, as opposed to medals for the snatch, clean and jerk and overall. This system of medal distribution applied at the Games from 1950 to 1986.
The weightlifting events will be staged at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre from Thursday 16 March to Friday 24 March.
