CWG 2014: Otari claims India's sixth weightlifting medal

Glasgow: Omkar Otari continued India’s power-packed performance in the weightlifting arena, clinching a bronze in the 69kg category to take the country’s medal tally in the sport to six on the third day of the 20th Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Besides, Rajwinder Kaur bagged a bronze in women’s +78kg judo competition to add to the three medals that India have won in the sport. With seven more medals, India took their overall medals tally to 17 with five gold, seven silver and five bronze medals and were placed fifth on the medals table.

Australia is at top with 50 medals, including 17 golds. England too has 17 golds but are placed at second as they overall they have 45 medals. Hosts Scotland are third with 25 medals out which 11 are yellow metal. Canada also have seven gold but their total is 16 medals.

Among other Indians in fray, star squash player Saurav Ghosal notched up a hard-fought 3-2 win over New Zealand’s Campbell Grayson to enter the semifinals of men’s singles but it was curtains for Dipika Pallikal in the women’s singles event.

Fourth seed Ghosal produced a gritty performance as he rallied from two-game down to eke out a difficult 8-11 7-11 11-6 11-8 11-6 win over the 12th seed from New Zealand. Ghosal thus became the first Indian to reach the singles semifinals since the sport was introduced in the Games programme in 1998.

“I knew it would be a tough match. I surely did not see myself going 0-2 and then winning 3-2. Really happy that I won,” Ghosal told PTI. “He played some very good stuff in the first two games — I thought I deserved at least one of them. In my head and my heart, I kept telling myself I need one game on board.

He came out firing in the fourth, going 5-0 up — and in the fifth it was neck and neck. There were some tense moments, but I got the job done in the end,” he added.

Ghosal said he is looking forward to the contest against James Willstrop. “I’m really happy to be able to back up yesterday’s 86-minute match with this one. I’m so focused on trying to win that maybe I’m missing the chance to appreciate the setting and the crowd. It’s the first time I’ve played on this court and I’m looking forward to coming back,” he said.

“Yes, I know his (James’s) game but he knows mine too! We’re very good friends on and off the court and our matches are played in the right spirit. But I want to win and will be doing my best to do so,” he added.