Commonwealth Games 2022: On Sunday, Anchita Sheuli grabbed a gold medal in weightlifting, Achinta Sheuli lifted 143 kgs and got a game record to his name for the maximum weight lifted 313kgs.
At the very start of the day, India’s young weightlifter Jeremy Larinnunga won the gold medal in the men’s 67 kg category. This 19-year-old set a new Commonwealth Games record of 300kg overall (140kg snatch and 160kg in clean and jerk).
And on Day 2 of the Commonwealth Games, 2022 Indian star Mirabai Chanu (women’s 49 kg category) secured gold while Bindyarani Devi (women’s 55 kg category) and Sanket Sargar (men’s 55 kg category) secured silver. Gururaja Poojary also claimed the bronze in the men’s 61 kg category.
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Achinta Sheuli started his first round by fabulously lifting 137 kgs and then successfully lifting 140 kgs. In his third and final round, the 20-year-old lifted 143 kg and named the gold medal to him. His last attempt in the snatch round was a Commonwealth Games Record.
After his first lift in the clean and jerk round the weightlifter set a games record with a combined lift of 309kg and lead in the competition. Whereas he missed out on his second attempt but was able to loft 170 kg in his final attempt and broke his own record and pushed it to a combined lift of 313 kgs.
About Achinta Sheuli
Achinta Sheuli started working on his weightlifting work in 2010 and started winning medals at district levels by 2012 for the same. The 20-year-old started training at a makeshift facility on a local farm and his elder brother Alok has been a big factor in his success till now. While speaking to the media he said, “I dedicate this gold medal to my brother”.
“There was a gym near our house. It was a home gym. I was the first one in our family to go. Achinta was a quiet boy. He was very shy, so, I took him to the gym to try and make him more confident,” says Alok. Alok is Achinta’s brother who has constantly been his brother’s back.
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Achinta’s Journey
As Achinta won the medal in CWG 2022 he doesn’t shy away from reciting his struggle story to people out there “The only thing that mattered was how we get our next meal. It was hafte ka lao, hafte ka khao (earn for a week, eat for a week). Sometimes, it was din ka lao, din ka khao (earn for a day, eat for the day),” Achinta recalls.
apart from all the ups and downs, Achinta was dedicated to his career. “I thought he could make a future for himself with the sport. I knew people could get jobs through it. I used to tell him we don’t have anything. The only place where we count for something is through sport. If you play well, you can make a name for yourself. If you work hard and perform, people will remember who you are,” said Alok. Alok a great weightlifter himself has won medals at state level.
Although winning medals for the nation is a matter of pride and fulfilling but having financial stability that his sport has provided to his family is much more satisfying to him, “The biggest happiness for me is that I have been able to contribute to the security of my family. With the money I’m making, I have been able to let my mother finally leave her job doing embroidery. I did embroidery myself when I had to help my family. But it feels very good that I can help them through my weightlifting now,” he added.
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