In the bustling city of Phuket, Thailand, Bindyrani Devi, a renowned weightlifter and Commonwealth Games medallist, showcased her prowess once again, clinching the bronze medal in the women’s 55kg event at the prestigious IWF World Cup on Tuesday. Despite tough competition, the 25-year-old Manipuri athlete lifted a commendable total of 196kg (83kg snatch + 113kg clean and jerk), securing the last spot on the podium.
However, compared to her previous achievements, Devi’s performance left much to be desired. Having won the silver medal at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham with a remarkable total effort of 203kg in 2022, her recent display fell short of expectations. Despite her efforts, she managed to execute only three legal lifts out of six attempts, resulting in a total lift that was 38kg less than the gold medallist, North Korea’s Kang Hyon Gyong, who lifted an impressive 234kg (103kg snatch + 131kg clean and jerk).
Romania’s Cambei Mihaela-Valentina, a formidable competitor who has already secured a spot in the Paris Olympics in Mirabai Chanu’s 49kg weight class, claimed the silver medal with a personal best effort of 201kg (91kg snatch + 110kg clean and jerk). Devi also secured the silver medal in the clean and jerk section for her impressive 113kg lift. It’s noteworthy that medals are awarded separately for snatch, clean and jerk, and total lift in continental, World Cups, and World Championships.
Despite her commendable performance at the final Olympic qualifying event, Devi’s Olympic dreams for the Paris Games are dashed. She had transitioned to the 59kg weight class, a category featured in the Paris Olympics, and even competed in the 2022 World Championships in that division, albeit finishing 25th. However, she reverted to her former 55kg weight division, in which she secured an Asian Championship silver last year.
Currently ranked 29th in the 59kg Olympic Qualification Ranking (OQR), Devi is out of contention for the Paris Games. With only the top 10 lifters in each weight class qualifying for the Olympics, Devi’s ranking falls short of the mark, marking the end of her journey towards Olympic glory in Paris.
Comments